I didn't know any of the victims, but am I affected by the Virginia Tech shooting? Yes. Why? I am affected because of my beliefs as a christian. Yes, it is sad as it stands on its own. Young lives and amazing people were killed because of the choice of another student. As a christian, though, I see this as a sign of the end. With every awful thing that happens, I cry, I fall to sorrow, but I know that there is hope. I know that because more and more tragedies are happening, such as hurricanes, fires, deaths, etc,, God is coming soon.
My grandmother said to me the other day, after the death of a very close friend who had been hit by a car, that God gives us all choice. He lets us choose to love Him or hate Him. So while many innocent people are choosing to love Him and do right by Him and the world, there are others who choose another way. Such events can make us angry, but if not for the fact that we do have a say in who we love or don't love, and have choice in how we live, we also must suffer the consequences that those around us also have that choice. I don't know, I may have very different words if it were my school, or if any of my friends or family were killed or injured, but I choose to believe that this happened for a reason. It is a horrible incident, but let's hope someone lives - eternally, with God - because those people died. I have had many wonderful people in my life die, so I am not speaking without experience in losing a loved one or even the feeling of security. I have lost people to car accidents, cancer, and heart attacks. I know it is hard and frustrating, but when we can someday look at the big picture, it will all make sense. For now, we all must live for the best; we must take that gift of choice that God gives us and use it for good. Even for those people who do not believe in God, why not live for God and choose good? I'd rather live like there is a God and there not be One, then to live like He does not exist, and there be a God. My prayers are with the friends and families of the victims. Why must bad things happen? So we appreciate the good and appreciate life.
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I understand exaclty where you are coming from. As soon as my classmates and I saw the news come on-we just stared. Like you said- I didn't know anybody involved, yet i feel a sort of connection to the families that lost their family members. Just like 9-11. Any untimely death makes me sad, and i will even cry for the loss of these complete strangers... But my philosophy on life is that, if God did not feel that they hadn't accomplished what they needed to in life, then he would have kept them here instead of taking them with him to heaven. Some may not believe this, some say "murdering a person cannot specify when he/she had accomplished their purpose in life." All i have to say to these people is that, miracles have happened. I had heard of a man that was shot in the head twice, and along with that stabbed multiple times in the chest- and he is alive to this day. This just proves that God can save people against any odds...
-x-Rose-x-