all of us.

i have spent the entire day at panera bread. (panera's...yes, like it's a persons place). A little bit ago this guy came in and set his bag down. opened it up and carefull set about 5 magazines in front of him on the table. they were arranged very carefully. then...for the next hour he proceeded to pick one of the magazines up and hold it about two inches from his face shaking it in excitement as he stared at the pictures. he held a little transister radio in one hand...and the magazine in the other. he gently swayed back and forth. i wonder if daniel will ever be that calm... will he be able to enter a public place and mind his own business? how could i have shown this guy i cared? what would Jesus do? do you think Jesus would heal people from these mental disorders? how crazy would that be!? i am drawn to those with mental disorders... there is an obvious distance that will exist w/n the relationship...b/c you can't talk about 'real' issues. but...maybe there is a greater depth in relationship. when i first started working with daniel...i realized how much i am like him. i just have the ability to change my understanding of the world to cope with it. but, he can't. he can't understand that to make friends he has to share. that while throwing things at other kids is fun for him, it will cause him to be alienated from the world. to some extent he is more real than me. he can't mask his depravity....b/c it consumes him.
we are all like that.
we are all capable of hurting people.
i believe each one of us is capable of what the man in va did...
we are all depraved to the core... and to deal that with that we either put on masks, or are freed from the bondage of evil through life in Christ. it's only through his power that anything of worth is accomplished.
i hope we can see that.
i know i am not personally involved in the shooting incident...so i am quite distanced from the situation/emotions....but, towards the shooter....i feel compassion. is this wrong? all i can think about is how lonely he must have felt. sitting at the cafeteria meal after meal alone. studying in his room night after night by himself. no outlet for his frustrations/emotions. i'm not condoning his activities...or saying they could have been stopped had someone extended an arm of love toward him....but... perhaps i am saying we shouldn't be too completely surprised at the event. especially if we believe in the depravity of man apart from Christ. we are all capable of this evil. each one of us.

i know God will be exalted in this situation... and many hurting people's hard hearts will be softened during this time. what a precious few weeks of openness.... pray that victims don't turn bitter....but, turn to freedom offered in Christ. it sounds trite.....but, may we believe this could be a reality...and get on our knees for our brothers and sisters laboring amongst those that are hurting... and that God would be exalted. i don't know...perhaps i had too much soda at panera's. but...thems my thoughts for the two people that read by blog.