9 Years Ago

Just last week I spent the week in Denver, Colorado training for my new job. This was my first trip to Denver and I enjoyed it. The scenery was beautiful and there is a lot to do in Denver. That is not the reason that I am writing though.

9 years ago in a suburb of Denver, in Littleton, Colorado a tragedy happened at Columbine High School. It is something that most people thought they would never have seen. We all were at home in the afternoon watching this horror happen. All of us were thinking how terrible, and most of us thought that it could never happen where we live. Most people used it as an excuse to skip school the next day. It was a terrible day in our Nation's history.

While I was in Denver I decided to visit the Columbine Memorial which sits next to Columbine High School. I can truly say that it was a life changing experience. When I approached the high school the day that happened nine years ago began to replay in my head. I seriously had a flash back. I also got a little teary eyed. I could not imagine what it must have been like for the students to return to the school, and the parents that drive by the school each day. It just shows how quick life can be and how precious each day is that God gives to us.

What was so surreal to me was the fact that this town is no different than the town I grew up in, or where I live now. It is a normal American Town with normal families living their lives. It happened in another time zone, but it can happen in your time zone too.

It is hard to believe that it has been nine years, and I thank God that I had to opportunity to learn something nine years latter. We have become numb to this violence in our nation now. Virgina Tech had a tragedy that was just as horrific and violent, but how quickly the story came and then it was gone. This should not be a normal thing, this should shock us every time it happens. What are we doing in our nation to raise violent teens and college students? That is the question, what are we doing?

I pray that our Nation never forgets these tragedies. I hope that we remember each year and that we grow from the experiences that had us all in tears as a Nation. One thing I do know, is that life is but a vapor. We do not know if we will breathe another breath. We do not know if we will see another sunrise. What we do on this planet and in this life counts. Only our Maker knows for sure what the future holds.