I wake in the wake of tragedy.
Though I was nowhere near the coastline of the horrific events that rocked the ship of Sandy Hook Elementary School, the resulting ripples have reverberated across an ocean.
Absolutely tragic. Senseless. Heartbreaking.
Just a few of the plethora of words that come to mind as I read about the Connecticut school massacre.
To be completely honest, if I were waking up in the United States today, I would be terrified to send my children to school next week.
But then again, who’s to say the same couldn’t happen in South Africa? Or India? Or Brazil?
When hearing news like this, one could easily be paralyzed by fear of the ‘what ifs.’ Fear that it might happen to our own children.
Yet there is something stronger than fear.
A quote from an unexpected source articulates it well. In the film, The Hunger Games, the following exchange takes place between two prominent figures in the twisted and disturbing competition:
“Seneca, why do you think we have a winner?” Snow asks while cutting a white rose.
“What do you mean?” Seneca asks.
“I mean, why do we have a winner?” Snow repeats, before pausing.
“Hope.”
“Hope?” Seneca replies, slightly bewildered.
“Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous,” Snow declares. “Spark is fine, as long as it’s contained. So, contain it.”
As the boat in Connecticut sways back and forth with raw grief, post-traumatic stress and fear of the unthinkable, there is one element that can steady the vessel.
Hope.
Not just any hope, but hope in the One who can still every fear, calm every thrashing heart and give light in depths of darkness.
Hope in a life beyond the here and now … hope in eternity.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).
My heart goes out to those who have suffered loss in this nightmare – and my prayer is that each one will cling to the One anchor who gives hope … a hope stronger and more powerful than any manmade fear.
For more ‘Snapshots of Hope,’ check out Hope Chaser Nasreen Fynewever’s blog here.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4442764722/
