Heart Utterings

There have been days in my life where I have heard news that is so devastating that there is a part of me that wants to just shut down.  I clearly remember the day that Kennedy was shot (I was really young but have a very vivid memory of this), the day the Space Shuttle blew up, 9/11, Columbine shooting and the shooting in Newtown yesterday. 

This one hit me in so many different ways.  My daughter, Heather, is a school teacher and she taught 2 years of kindergarten and now teaches in the Head Start program with a classroom full of 4 year olds.  Her class is on the corner of the building right by the outside door.  While I grieved for these families in Newtown, I found myself feeling great relief that Heather and her students were okay.  Such strange feelings of horror and relief all at once.

I saw this post today of a message sent out by Max Lucado.  He is such a great pastor, teacher and writer and His words were very comforting to me.  He often writes what my heart longs to utter but I simply don't have the words.  I hope it brings you comfort as well.

"Dear Jesus,
It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were night shift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us."

Thank you, Max.  Even in such darkness, there is hope.  Even in such devastation, Jesus is present and walking beside each of these families.  Their cries, sobs and words of anger, grief and disbelief do not go unnoticed.  God came near so long ago and He still comes near today.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted 

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.  

Psalm 34:18