tragedy – Is This What You Are Looking For?

June 15, 2007

The Passing of Greatness…

candle

Quietly they often go and no one really notices until they are gone. True legacy is never noticed or valued until greatness has passed.

Last night and this morning, greatness passed our way. She was a sojourner, a mother, a supporter, a traveler, an author, a rock and a contributor to one of the greatest ministries our world has known.

Ruth Graham

Ruth Bell Graham passed away last night. There’s nothing much more that I wish to say on it. I am sad today. I know that we need to keep Billy Graham in our prayers and recognize his loss and pain. One of my heroes of the faith is experiencing loss today. Let’s remember what they have all done for us.

Mrs. Graham, we will miss you. Billy, our prayers are with you. Lord, guide us on, Amen.

Please visit the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s website to see the entire Memorial. (CLICK HERE)

“I will not wish thee riches nor the glow of greatness, but that wherever thou go, some weary heart shall gladden at thy smile, or shadowed life know sunshine for awhile. And so thy path shall be a track of light, like angels’ footsteps passing through”

-Author Unknown

And today, church. Let us pray as greatness like angels’ footsteps have just passed through.

With condolences to the family,

dustin hedrick

VA Tech Tragedy Thoughts

pain

With this tragedy continuing to stir conversation, I want to allow a space here on this site to record and even allow for continued conversation as so many of us deal with this tragedy.

Having been at UNC, only 150 yards away from the shooting on Franklin Street in 1995, I have always dealt with a kind of strange regret for living. I don’t know to this day why I decided to walk home instead of taking the bus. I was at Alumni Hall after class and rather than go to Franklin Street to take the bus, I walked across campus back to Hinton James. I didn’t even know anything happened until I got to my dorm and people were screaming, crying, running and hugging. One of my friends ran up, grabbed me and said, I knew you were there. I thought it was you. I knew you would be there. Thank GOD you are OK. To which I responded, “what happened?” She as she cried said, “a guy walked out on Franklin Street and started shooting at everybody.

I can feel all of that again right now and what we went through back then was nothing compared to what has happened at VA Tech. My heart aches and it seems that I am right back there in the midst of the pain I so well remember.

Folks, I hurt for those that are going through this loss right now. It feels like I am there again.

Here are some things from UNC…

Wendell Williamson – UNC Shooting – 1/26/95

The Actual Court of Appeals File
Video – ABC 11 Vault
A Blog on his disappearance on night from his hospital
Another Post about his disappearance
And might I say, what are we thinking? Is this justice? I just don’t know.

Below are VA Tech articles and some questions. If you would like to comment on any of this, I would appreciate hearing from you. This simply exists to get this all out of our heads and off our chests.

VA Tech Articles
MSNBC Article
Yahoo Article – Names
Washington Post Article
CNN Article

Questions I have:
What were the motives in these shootings?
What does Ismale Ax mean for the VA shooter?
What is next for the hurting?
If you were a part of one of the many violent crimes in our school systems, what are your thoughts and feelings now, years later?
What can we do next?
How do we heal? How did you find healing?
How do we help people before they get to this point?

These are just some thoughts. Please, let’s talk.

April 16, 2007

VA Tech Tragedy – Let Us Pray.

flowers

There has never been a generation with so many talents, abilities, calling, opportunities, upward mobility, vision, desires and dreams than the one currently reaching adulthood right now. And since that is true, it makes recent events at Virginia Tech’s campus all the more disturbing and shocking.

This post is here simply to state that we at the Tapestry are available for any reason to the families and friends who are facing this loss and tragedy. Church, I know some of you possibly and probably have friends or family that are connected to the school campus or who attend the school. Should you need anything, please KNOW that we are available at any time. My cell phone number is 240-888-8992. Please call me and I am available to listen and help.

I want you to know I am praying for you and I am available. I am not too busy to talk and encourage. So, feel free to call at any time day or night and should I not be readily available, I will contact you back at the soonest possible time.

VA Tech, we are praying for you. Families, friends, loved-ones, we are praying for you and we want you to know that even as things settle down and people seemingly forget, we are still available through the coming months and years.

We are so very saddened by this loss and tragedy and want you to know we care.

Is This What You Are Looking For?

Category: tragedy

Category: tragedy

The Passing of Greatness…

“I will not wish thee riches nor the glow of greatness, but that wherever thou go, some weary heart shall gladden at thy smile, or shadowed life know sunshine for awhile. And so thy path shall be a track of light, like angels’ footsteps passing through”

VA Tech Tragedy Thoughts

VA Tech Tragedy – Let Us Pray.