Devotions for Disciples

by Sonya Hayes

We cannot define the full magnitude of grief, fear, or confusion that occurred in a most unexpected place in the most unexpected town in a moment of time. One month — four weeks — 30 days! Regardless of how you define the passing of time since April 15, 2023, it was a moment that changed everyone and everything in our beautiful community.  It was a moment in time that took our breath and shattered our hearts and lives.  

Today, many of those affected by this tragedy celebrate that their child is home and recovering. Some wonder how their child will navigate the new normal. A few still wait by hospital beds and in rehab wings hoping and praying that today is the day that a breakthrough happens. 

We have seen parents and grandparents seeking answers on how to help navigate such troubled waters. We have watched our children suffer physically and emotionally. Young hearts that are not equipped for such devastation have had to find — and are still seeking — permission to live, to love, and even to laugh again. 

For the most part, we live in a quiet and unassuming community. We celebrate track stars and homecoming queens. Friday night football is a social gathering. Building a new gymnasium for the high school brings excitement. These moments of time have brought out the best of us in the past, proving what we have always had and what we have always been, but we never knew how much we loved each other and cared for the well-being of each other until THAT moment. But in that moment, we have seen the true nature and character of our community as individuals and groups have risen up and rallied to support, in every way possible, those who have suffered. There have been prayer vigils where hugs were lifelines and shoulders were receptacles to catch the tears of complete strangers. Celebrations have continued as students have reached new milestones. People have come together to do everything they can do to make sure that needs are met and healing can takes place. In that moment, we became a living, breathing force of unity. 

I am reminded of the words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 3. 

¹      There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

As bitter as some of these words may taste in our mouths, they are a truth as old as creation. Moments pass. Some good and some bad. Our choice is simple: in which moment will we live?