Man's Search for Meaning; Sandy Hook

I was reading a book this morning that was given to me by my Psychology professor. The title is "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor E. Frankl. It's a book written by a survivor of the Holocaust on the psychological mind set of a prisoner. Within the book Frankl speaks on a prisoner's mindset when he was finally freed. He explains that some of these men, men who have suffered some of the greatest sufferings known to mankind, come out not with the mindset that since they have suffered no one else should suffer like them, but rather that because they have suffered in the way that they have they can let anyone else suffer because they have the right to.

My heart still breaks for those in New Town, Connecticut. My fear as I read this book is for those children and adults involved. I fear that if their grief and sufferings are not treated correctly they will have this mindset. They can make others suffer as much as they want because they have suffered. 

It is this mindset that creates people like the gunman at Sandy Hook. They suffer and feel others should suffer with them. 

"No one has the right to do wrong, not even if wrong has been done to them." -Frankl

Here is a man who has suffered some of the worst sufferings known to man, and even he can recognize that no one has the right to do wrong, even those who have been wronged.

As a Christian I cannot help but be thankful that our savior, Jesus Christ, did not have this mindset. That he agrees with Frankl. For if he did not agree with Frankl how would we be living? He has been wronged in so many ways, yet he shows us all mercy. 

I just hope that none of you see this as an act of God. It is not an act of God. It is an act of evil. Be reminded that God blessed us with the ability to choose our actions. And with that unfortunately comes sin and evil. God will be here to heal us, but he cannot keep us form making the wrong decision. Look to Him for guidance, and not as a person to blame. 

Honestly, I am not exactly sure where I am going with this. I just felt the need to say this. I continue to pray for the families in Connecticut. I pray for grace and mercy. I pray for the parents who will never get to send their child to school again. I pray for the families of the teachers who lost their lives. I pray for the school, that it can rise up again. I pray for the community that it can rise up again. I pray for the gunman's family that they find answers, and that they don't experience too much hatred. That people remember they are suffering as well. I pray for those poor children who saw their friends as they walked out of the school for help. I just pray. Please do not forget them. Do not allow them to be forgotten. For those of you who pray continue to pray. For those who don't just do whatever you can to keep things like this from happening. 

Look out for people like this man. Love them. Speak to them. Calm them. Get them help. 

On my way home from church this morning I heard the song "Boston" by Augustana. It says, "You don't know me, you don't even care, oh yeah, she said, you don't know me, and you don't wear my chains." As these lyrics were sung I couldn't help but think of this man. This gunman that walked into a school. I must admit that anger towards him still lingers within my heart, but I also have to admit that I feel God spoke to me with these lyrics. "You don't know me, you don't even care." How many people do you pass by in the hallway that you don't know. That you know nobody knows them. They're alone and it's obvious. "You don't know me, you don't wear my chains." Just talk to them. I promise you, you can make a difference. If you don't think so read this story. The Story of Kyle. If you still don't think so, talk to me. Email me. I am walking evidence of the effect people have when they just choose to talk to you. 

Please, as my pastor asked us today, let go of your hate. Even if it is small hatred. Because we sit here and wonder how this guy could do something so horrible. The truth is it all starts with hate. First we hate someone. Then we can't stand them. Then we want to hurt them. And before we know it we're talking to the cops saying that we don't remember anything. We just remember being angry. 

Please, I ask again keep Sandy Hook in your prayers, and don't let them be forgotten. Let go of your hatred. Let go of the mindset that you can harm because you have been harmed. Begin a new legacy right now. Just because you have suffered does not mean that those after you have to. You can change things. So do it. Don't just stand by as other gunman and suicides are in the making.




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