Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Heroes stay with mall shooting victim to the end: 'she did not die alone'
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - In the chaos of the shooting spree Tuesday at Clackamas Town Center, several people stayed with Cindy Ann Yuille, 54, who was shot and died at the scene.
Retired emergency room nurse Joan Smith of Milwaukie, Ore., was one of the people who worked to revive Yuille after shots rang out.
She said she wanted the family to know that Cindy was cared for until she passed away. "We had to stay with her," she said, even though it was unknown at the time where the shooter was or if they were safe.
This has been a difficult week. We will never forget the senseless crime of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting. What a tragedy. There was also a mall shooting at Clackamas Town Center in Oregon, near my old stomping grounds, in which two people were killed. When I was in high school, Clackamas Town Center was newly built and I had to transfer buses there. Many times my classmates and I would go in the mall for a quick snack at the food court where the murders took place. It's so sad to think about.
Earlier this week, I dealt with someone whose family member had threatened suicide. The family member was not in a safe place and thankfully we were able to get this family some help. It has weighed on my heart. I've also thought about the Impostor Blog and the difficult exchanges we've had on the Wartburg Blog. It has been uncomfortable and has opened old wounds for me and also for some who have contacted me privately. I am putting up some personal boundaries on that issue because I need to live life and enjoy the beauty around me: my family, friends. Please consider doing the same if you are getting triggered.
I saw this news clip about two kind-hearted individuals who stayed with shooting victim, Cindy Ann Yuille, until she passed away. This is what a victim's family would want to know: did she die alone? Cindy Ann Yuille did not die alone. Two brave individuals, Joan Smith and Tony Charro, risked their lives while the shooter was still on the loose to attend a precious human being as she breathed her last breaths. Even though they did not know this woman, they respected her, they cared for her, they demonstrated love to her and did not want her to be alone. What a precious gift they gave.
I see that happening here as we share abuse stories. One of the scariest things that abuse survivors feel is the feeling of being alone. When I shared stories about the challenges of being single in the church, a common response was: we feel so alone. The love and support you show one another here - complete strangers - is wonderful. I want to be intentional in my love and support of others who are going through difficulties and struggles.
I don't ever want to lose the aspect of that beautiful gift God has given us - the gift of relationships, the gift of encouragement, care, and support. Thank you for supporting me behind the scenes this week. You know who you are.
Kyrie, eleison.
ReplyDeleteΚύριε, ἐλέησον
Delete"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness"
(Lamentations 3:22-23).
I see that happening here as we share abuse stories. One of the scariest things that abuse survivors feel is the feeling of being alone. When I shared stories about the challenges of being single in the church, a common response was: we feel so alone.
ReplyDeleteThat is the real power behind Shunning, and why abusive churches are so eager to use it as their weapon.
That is so true, HUG. Shunning creates isolation, it does not allow people to ask questions, etc. They end up stuffing their feelings which leads to helplessness, etc. It is a powerful tool in the wrong hands. I know someone who has used it masterfully, but perhaps it might be losing it's sting as people vote with their feet and leave.
DeleteI'm sorry that I haven't commented earlier. This was such a difficult week for everyone with Clackamas and Newtown. I kind of stopped engaging in comments on blogs (except for once at TWW). I just wanted to observe and take things in.
ReplyDeleteAnd, add to you the friends dealing with family issues, imposter blog and the discussion at TWW (which, BTW, I find interesting that the former church members are willing to debate with you there and not here). I'm sure that you have had a heavy heart this past week.
In my years of watching and dealing with personal hardship and societal tragedies, this one verse has always stayed in the back of my mind:
John 16:33: (Jesus is speaking) "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Peace to you, dear sister. That is simply what I pray for you. Peace.
"so that in me you may have peace"
Delete"and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts (i.e., your emotions) and your minds (your thoughts) in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
Kathi - Thank you so much for your beautiful comment. I really appreciate the verse you posted, too. Thank you for praying and please, if I may ask, extend it to Meaghan and other BGBC who are struggling after these wounds have been reopened by this craziness.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very touching story and video.
ReplyDeleteTHE GOD CARD and such:
I found on TWW last evening where Mike Huckabee stated that this kind of thing will happen since we systematically removed God from our public schools. (Google school shooting and include the word "God".)
I am sick to death of likes of him and his stupid remarks. I think people were wondering who would be first to mouth off with such a statement. I thought it would be Pat Robertson. Some would have voted for John Piper. But leave it to some idiot politician.
God did not do this evil deed. One kid who must have hated his mother and maybe was very unstable did this. Blame the devil if you would, but I am not buying into the BS about some way we took God out of the schools. Was He really in the schools? In what way? I said the pledge of allegiance to the flag and the Lord's prayer each school day morning. This was 60 years ago. So does that mean God was in the school just because we repeated some words that the teacher told us to say? Is the school where we go to find God?
I want to know just exactly when and how we took God out of public schools. Give me a date. What did we do? Ban prayer? Can't a person pray to themselves anywhere at any time? Is the public school system where we want to teach out kids how to pray? Is that what school is for?
Before the elections Michael Muordock (running for US Senate in Indiana) made a horrendous statement about God wanting a raped woman (who becomes pregnant from the rape) to be forced to carry the child to term. He was defeated in the election. People don't forget those kinds of statements. (Google Mourdock with the word "God".) I say you can be pro-life but use a little common sense and have some compassion on the victims. I'll stop here...
And to top it off I see that Westboro Baptist Church is on their high-horse again. They may try to protest at some of the funerals of these little children. (Google Westboro) If I were a parent and just lost a child in such a horrendous way, I would probably be a bit inclined to beat the living crap out of those protestors. My guess would be it wouldn't take much for the police to just happen to be looking the other way. I think our country has had enough of Westboro Baptist hate mongers and it may soon come back to bite them.
I won't say sorry for the rant, because if I did it would be a lie.
I really don't want to debate. I just had to vent a little. Such a stressful time in our history.
Sheep-Dog - feel free to vent here. I got annoyed when I was reading how even homeschoolers were jumping on the political bandwagon trying to recruit after the shooting. How insensitive can you get? Here were a couple that I remember: "If there was ever a time to homeschool, this would be it" "So glad I homeschool my children where they are safe."
DeleteThis was a random shooter. It could have been at a grocery store, library, or any public place.
The prayer in school thing: what are they going to do when a Muslim says they want to pray, too? You can't have your cake and eat it, too. I think academics should be their focus, not religion. The church has a hard enough time without going off track (faith/prosperity gospel, etc), what makes people think schools can do a decent job?
JA,
DeleteWell, if we would have had Muslims in our neighborhood around 60 years ago, the kids on the school bus would have taken their prayer rugs, played keep-away with them, rubbed them in the mud and humiliated them. Kids were like that.
I agree. I is certainly not the place for public schools to teach religion. If they really were to do so I can only imagine how outraged people would be.
Each religion would want it THEIR way. (As you imply above.) Muslims, Jews, Christians, Satan-Worshipers.. Oh my! And how many different brands of Christianity would there be? 400 or so?
All the "John Pipers" of the world would insist on their theology. What a nightmare it would be. Lets just keep the insanity in the churches where it belongs. lol