meditation on the violence at the Westroads, #2

There will be a brief service of prayer and remembrance of the Von Maur deaths.
Fireplace Lounge, Tuesday at noon.
All are welcome.


Also: Habitat for Humanity Saturday morning—meet at Caffeine Dreams at 8:00 am.



Meditation:

Anybody could tell things were different on campus yesterday, at least for awhile. When I walked into the food court, smatterings of conversations were about the killings at the Westroads. One woman was checking for text messages and commented, “They are supposed to release the names (of the victims) at 9:30 am.” Another student read the morning World Herald in one hand and held his calculus notes in the other. Others huddled over laptops in low volume conversations.

Over the sound system, Mav radio played Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.” Yes, the atmosphere was considerably different.

Students who talked with me shared a variety of emotions: a sense of disruption, unfairness, disbelief, violation. Others were non-phased and working at being rational—“This kind of event has happened in other cities, why not Omaha?” And there was a grappling with a fear that an event like this might happen again. Others remained intent on their homework, seemingly oblivious to everything but exam preparations.

Perhaps you have experienced some of these emotions and thoughts. Or maybe other sensations have occurred to you and your friends. You may have also experienced a numbness, and no feelings are found at all; or there may be confusion about how people could be having so many emotions and that they are running so deep.

Personally, one word I’ve found to describe my own feelings is “unsettled.” Life as Im used to has been interrupted and continuity has flagged. I’ve been reminded of life’s dangerous side. I notice an anxiousness to want the news coverage and the effects of this event to go away and leave me alone, so I can get on with life--without difficulty or interruption. I feel a chill inside, and it’s not from the sub freezing weather.

“Wherever two or three are gathered, there I am also.” Matthew 18.20 is in a section of the book where Jesus is giving instruction on how to work through conflict in a group. In the end, healthy faith lives include getting together, in easy times and uncomfortable ones. Therefore, in response to all our perspectives and emotions, it seems appropriate to follow scripture and get together.

We’ve reserved the fireplace lounge for Tuesday at noon. We will light candles, remember the event and its victims, and pray for the families, ourselves, our city. We invite everyone to join us. All are welcome. God will be there among us.

As always, you can feel free to contact me by phone or email.

--f