As I type this blog from my thoughts I cannot help but let the tears drip down my sun burnt face. My heart is heavy, my throat is dry and my head hurts with emotion.
I was just reading the profiles of the 12 people murdered by Derrick Bird in Cumbria yesterday. I had the privilege of visiting Cockermouth and Whitehaven in December and was struck by it's friendliness, peace and great sense of community. That community is now ripped apart, stained by the awful awful events of the last 24 hours. As a Christian I wonder how my faith is going to stand up amidst this utter heartache. How can a man who, well liked by his friends, go on a rampage killing 12 people and wounding 11 more? It's not just those people. He has hurt every one with a social conscience, with a heart, with a care for human beings.
At this moment I'm not praying for him. I'm praying for the retired couple he murdered and their family. I'm praying for the murdered rugby player and his friends and family, I'm praying for the unmarried lady in her 70s who was delivering home shopping catalogues when she was killed. I'm praying for you; if you are reading this and you are hurt or have been affected by this.
I cried on my way to work this morning. I'm sure lots of other were crying in their beds last night. They were crying with their families and friends, on their own, in their heart. This country will cry too.
I was just reading the profiles of the 12 people murdered by Derrick Bird in Cumbria yesterday. I had the privilege of visiting Cockermouth and Whitehaven in December and was struck by it's friendliness, peace and great sense of community. That community is now ripped apart, stained by the awful awful events of the last 24 hours. As a Christian I wonder how my faith is going to stand up amidst this utter heartache. How can a man who, well liked by his friends, go on a rampage killing 12 people and wounding 11 more? It's not just those people. He has hurt every one with a social conscience, with a heart, with a care for human beings.
At this moment I'm not praying for him. I'm praying for the retired couple he murdered and their family. I'm praying for the murdered rugby player and his friends and family, I'm praying for the unmarried lady in her 70s who was delivering home shopping catalogues when she was killed. I'm praying for you; if you are reading this and you are hurt or have been affected by this.
I cried on my way to work this morning. I'm sure lots of other were crying in their beds last night. They were crying with their families and friends, on their own, in their heart. This country will cry too.
