Insult to Injury
Spokane has been rocked by the events at Freeman High School. It's one thing to know that school shootings can happen. But it is totally different to have it happen in your own home town, when you know the students being shot at.
I don't personally know the shooter. Or the victim. Or the students who were wounded. But I know people who know them. Well.
We all have opinions about what happened. Why it happened. And why it should never have happened.
We've already, less than twenty-four hours later, demonized the young man charged with the shooting. And we are judging his parents for their part in this horrible, unimaginable action. Even if we have no idea what their part might be. In fact, we don't really know much about why a highschooler brought guns to school in rural Washington. We know very little.
What we do know is, multiple families are suffering tonight, greatly. It is easy to put ourselves in the shoes of the parents of the young man who was killed. Or in the shoes of the parents whose children are recovering in the local hospital. And while we're hesitant to admit it, we're all secretly glad that we can kiss our children again tonight.
It is not, however, that easy to imagine being the parent of the shooter. He's alive. Sitting in a cell at the local detention center. Nobody wants to think about how his parents might feel. But if we're really going to treat others the way we want to be treated, we'll take a moment to put ourselves in their shoes.
Nobody, ever, wants to know that their child maliciously took the life of another person's child. Ever. It's probably about the most horrible thing any parent could experience.
So, let's treat the parents of the Freeman shooter with the same compassion we'd long for in this situation. And pray for the journey they will be taking tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. This won't go away. They won't forget. So let's not add insult to injury.
I don't personally know the shooter. Or the victim. Or the students who were wounded. But I know people who know them. Well.
We all have opinions about what happened. Why it happened. And why it should never have happened.
We've already, less than twenty-four hours later, demonized the young man charged with the shooting. And we are judging his parents for their part in this horrible, unimaginable action. Even if we have no idea what their part might be. In fact, we don't really know much about why a highschooler brought guns to school in rural Washington. We know very little.
What we do know is, multiple families are suffering tonight, greatly. It is easy to put ourselves in the shoes of the parents of the young man who was killed. Or in the shoes of the parents whose children are recovering in the local hospital. And while we're hesitant to admit it, we're all secretly glad that we can kiss our children again tonight.
It is not, however, that easy to imagine being the parent of the shooter. He's alive. Sitting in a cell at the local detention center. Nobody wants to think about how his parents might feel. But if we're really going to treat others the way we want to be treated, we'll take a moment to put ourselves in their shoes.
Nobody, ever, wants to know that their child maliciously took the life of another person's child. Ever. It's probably about the most horrible thing any parent could experience.
So, let's treat the parents of the Freeman shooter with the same compassion we'd long for in this situation. And pray for the journey they will be taking tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. This won't go away. They won't forget. So let's not add insult to injury.
I don't know who you are but you put this in the best context.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteWell said. Compassion and empathy should be the hallmark of this tragedy and that includes the parents of a young man who took the lives of others. I can't even begin to imagine their emotions.
ReplyDeleteI can't either. If it was my son...the agony would be unimaginable. No mother raises a son with the expectation that he will ever take someone else's life. To live with that...especially in a place where everyone knows everyone...I would probably move. I don't know what kind of faith, if any, you have, but I am crying out to Jesus for all those involved. I'd love to have you join me.
DeleteI agree, beautifully written. I've been thinking the same thing but could never word it as you did. Those parents need support as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have no idea what kind of support they have right now. But we can all pray for them. Appreciate your heart.
DeleteVery well said. We have no right to judge the parents of the shooter. I can't imagine how devastating it would be to have to face that reality. Compassion is certainly needed for all involved.
ReplyDeleteCompassion is definitely needed. Ror me, it is so much easier to feel compassion for the Strahan family than for the Sharpe family, until I imagine what it would be like to be the Sharpe family. The grief they must be feeling, especially in a small community where everyone knows everyone...overwhelming...
DeleteWe can't undo what's been done, or take away the consequences for Caleb's actions. But we can extend grace to his family and operate with compassion as we reflect on the events of Sept 13, 2017. Hopefully you'll join me in prayer, not only for the Sharpe and Strahan families, as well as for the students struggling with what happened.
This is a beautiful depiction of how we are to love each person - cannot even imagine what the parents are feeling and how hurt, confused, and fearful they must be for their son , those he killed and injured and for their own family. This family's whole world was just turned upside down in a way that is isolating and painful.
ReplyDeleteSo well said! Thank you all for speaking out and reminding all of us to be Christ-like during this time, and always.
DeleteTo wake up the next morning and NOT have your son to say good morning to, pack his lunch, go over his sports schedule, as you did EVERY morning prior to yesterday ~ THIS pain cannot even be imagined.
ReplyDeleteThe Parents of The Shooter, well . . . perhaps they had the same dialog with him. Not known.
The fact that it did happen . . . that a teenager took another life is reality ~ For whatever reason he felt he "decided he had to do that" , he DID that.
According to the News Station, their were prior "RED FLAGS", both by the school, the bus driver and students.
This could of been avoided at SO many levels, but "we" collectively have become so super sensitive to "circumstances" and afraid to offend anyone, that this IS the price that will be paid ~
IF YOU SEE something, SAY something! Are you afraid that by pointing out a "sick person", you will be considered phobic? What has this world become?
It stated the bus driver "thought something was strange" when he carried the BIG DUFFLE BAG onto the bus. He wasn't into sports! ( SEE something ~ SAY something! ) ~
Now a child is dead because the roadblocks were ALL but taken down.
When will we all regain our basic instinct of COMMON SENSE? Sad . . .
We can't undo what happened. And it's hard to know when to say something, not just because we've lost common sense, but because we can so easily be paranoid and worry when it's nothing. Hindsight is always 20/20. Always. You can look back and recognize signs that didn't necessarily click in the moment. We have become afraid to say something. But honestly, who knows if it would have helped. Looking forward, trying to figure out some positive options for change, that's what we need to do now.
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