…all my troubles seemed so far away…

The day started out so beautifully. Really, most of the day was absolutely wonderful. Sleeping in while the world around us was silently being covered in snow, Christmas music playing while eating perfect oatmeal and sipping hot chocolate, laughter and joy as sidewalks and driveways were shoveled and the Christmas tree was decorated.

It was a perfect day yesterday, and still, the peace shattered when my brother called us to tell of the shooting at NewLife. When we lived in the Springs, that was our church. I was a leader in the youth group, sang in the choir and a child care teacher there. I made many close friends and still keep in touch even though we’re in Denver now. My brother and his family live about a block away from NewLife and occasionally visit there. They chose to cozy together while it snowed outside and they skipped the second service yesterday. Amazing how that works, I know of several people who also missed church yesterday.

After I heard about this incident I was pretty much consumed with it for the rest of the day, still am. This hit too close to home. I had chills bad enough, last week, when a shooter decided to go crazy in an Omaha mall. I woke up to the news of the YWAM shooting yesterday and instantly felt nauseated and got chills again. It’s easy to write off the terror in other countries and, sometimes, even in other states. However, when a senseless killing happens in a neighboring city and then several hours later at my former church, well, the earth kind of moves under my feet.

I don’t know any of the victims but knowing that he was shooting in a parking lot right by the youth building and shooting down the hallway that is normally filled with children jumping in bounce houses after church just really leaves me unsettled.

Although this situation makes me a bit more uneasy when in public areas, it is teaching me to: appreciate every aspect of my life, hug my children more and get over my trials quicker and easier.

I pray that God blesses and comforts the families of all the victims, including those traumatized by witnessing the attacks, and I hope that Jeanne Assam wins an award for her valor.