A Matter of Perspective

We live in a day where violence is all around us. People are opening fire on students, teachers, in malls, in stores, in the streets, and on the highways. They are full of rage or depression or something.

It isn’t just kids or young adults, this poison seems to be affecting everyone and everywhere.

The headlines are getting worse and worse, too. Sadly, the following are actual headlines

“Farmers accused of murdering 2 women, feeding them to pigs after bodies found in sty”—South Africa

“Brothers who sextorted high school homecoming king, 17, then encouraged him to kill himself get 17 years” —Michigan

“Colorado teen shot in the face by town councilman after going to home to ask permission to take homecoming photos” —Colorado

“Miss Switzerland Kristina Joksimovic ‘pureed in a blender by husband’ who used a jigsaw to dismember her body” —Switzerland

“Suspected school shooter Colt Gray allegedly uttered three chilling words after arrest” —Georgia

The alleged words were, “I did it.”

“At least 2 St. Paul schools cancel classes on Thursday following threat” —St. Paul, Minnesota

“Active shooter opens fire on Kentucky highway, massive manhunt continues” —Kentucky

“Gunfire erupts on Southern California freeway; 1 person hospitalized: —California

“‘Spasms of violence’: Mass shootings on I-5 in Seattle lead to injuries before arrest” —Washington (state)

The list goes on and on.

It is scary being a grandparent/parent these days. I’m not so afraid for myself as I am for my grandchildren and the hundreds of thousands of other students around the globe who face this kind of violence.

Yes, there are adults who inflict these violent acts. These acts that are beyond comprehension in some cases.

When I went to school we didn’t feel like we had to wear bulletproof clothing. The worst thing I ever remember is having a bomb threat one day. I believe it was only once in the 13 years of school (K-12) that I attended in Eagle Bend and Clarissa.

I didn’t worry that someone would come into our classroom and kill a bunch of people.

Now I am sort of afraid to go shopping. If I don’t get killed on the way to the store, I might get gunned down while in the store.

It’s a scary world.

All I can do is trust in the Lord to keep us safe and to pray daily, hourly, more often than that even, that these disturbed individuals will get the help they need!

There is help available. Think about calling a mental health professional or checking into a hospital before you do something that cannot be reversed and will impact the lives of so many people for so long.

Talk to someone. It could make a huge difference.