I Can Only Imagine (my thoughts on the Ft Hood shooting of 4/2/14)

The first we heard about it was the Chaplain “check-in” requirement due to an active shooter on post.

Ron had just gotten home from an appointment on post. The girls were planning on a youth group bowling night and we were eating an early dinner because of that. We got notice the bowling night was canceled (because it was going to be at the bowling alley on post) so we laughingly commented that we had to eat early for nothing.

At that point in time, we knew next to nothing of what was happening just a few miles from us.

Now we know. Now we are grieved. Now the pettiness of our day seems so wrong and out-of-place.

As the evening went on, I found myself thinking several times, “I can only imagine…”

I can only imagine:

*the panic and fear surrounding those in close proximity to the violence itself

*the fear of not knowing where your loved one is at that moment

*the helpless feeling of being stuck on or off post, knowing your family members are on the opposite side of that gate

*the feelings of those soldiers who just returned from Afghanistan a couple of days ago and then experienced this

*the heartbreak of those families who actually received the news that their soldier was wounded or killed

I know there are those who must be concerned about the “whys” and “how can we keep this from happening again,” but watching the news channels where there was nothing but arguing over this by the “experts” only made me angry.

So tonight I urge you to pray for the victims, their families, the scared children living on post, the first-responders who dealt with the tragedy, and the Chaplains who are helping even late into this night and will continue to counsel, comfort, and walk with people through the after-affects of this day.