What Will We Learn from Aurora?

   I think that I should have actually said "relearn" from Aurora because the bottom line is this - we have been down this path before (Columbine, September 11th, etc).   Every time something awful, tragic, and evil happens, we have to evaluate what we can learn from these events.  What can we "do" with it?   
   The first thing we have to NOT learn is to live in fear.   2 Tim 1:7 plainly says that God has not given us the spirit of fear.   We cannot live our lives without going to movie theaters, school, football games, church, or any other place where there will be large crowds of people.   Then evil wins.
   Furthermore, we also have remember that evil is a part of our world.   Sometimes it is just more incarnate than others.   I don't - and probably will never - understand why this young man felt like this was an answer, remedy, or calling.  Know that there is one who relishes in these events and claims these tragedies as victories.
    I think we also have to remember that this young man was not an island unto himself.   He has a family.   I intend on praying for them as people will lash out against them because of his actions.   This family will forevermore be the family of the guy who walked in a movie theater and shot a bunch of people.   Can you imagine what life looks like to them right now?   I really can't.
   The other thing I hope I learn...that my life story matters.   The news media is talking to (and will continue to talk to for long past a reasonable amount of time) the family members of those who died this weekend.   The news organizations will find someone's third cousin twice removed to talk about that victim's life and legacy.   In the end, what will they say?   Will they talk about how hard you worked?   What a tremendous mother or father you were?   Will they say you were trustworthy?   Kind?   An amazing friend?   Will they talk about your love for Jesus?    It is something for me to ponder.   If my face was being splashed on a screen while someone was talking about me, what would that person being saying?
    America will recover.   We always do.   We pull ourselves up and move forward.   It is my hope that we will move forward a little differently than we were 3 days ago.