Mourning
My heart is grieving and tired. It's been a tough few weeks. Three weeks ago a student who graduated last year was killed in a tragic car accident. She was a wonderful student who lived for Christ, and that I had the great pleasure of knowing since she was in the 8th grade. The response to her death by friends and family was a testimony consistent with her life...full of honest worship and seeking after God. However, as usual in school settings, the death of one student often reveals deep issues in others who are struggling, and just an hour before Bethany's funeral that week a student shared with me that they were having thoughts of suicide. Then on that Friday a completely different student actually attempted suicide at school. Both are doing fine physically and and are now in the process of healing emotionally.

This past Thursday a student who graduated two years ago was trapped beneath her car for almost two hours before being rescued. It was all the result of accident due to the snow and ice. She's now in the hospital with 3rd degree burns and back injuries. And then this morning I received information that another former student from the same class had died in another accident. It seems that he died from hypothermia after capsizing in a canoe or kayak. I've spent a good deal of the day on the phone counseling other students, trying to help them deal with the "why?" questions that won't be answered in This Age.

Two deaths, a threat of suicide, an attempted suicide, and a terrible accident involving students in less than a month. I'm not sure how spiritual warfare works, but it sure feels like we're in the midst of it.

Lord, have mercy on our students, their families, and our staff.

Update: Our friend Colby does a good job of writing about Josh on his blog.
posted by Jimmy at 5:45 PM | |