Living here in Hokie Land, this week’s tragedy at Virginia Tech really resonates. It’s just a few miles up the road. During football season, our family makes a sport out of counting the cars that display Hokie wear…flags, bumper stickers, inflatable turkeys. It's truly a school full of heart and school spirit. And now, unfortunately, heart-breakingly, VT is known for this week’s tragic shootings.

Why do these things happen? Why does God allow it?

On Monday, the day of the shootings, Dave heard a newscast where other universities were asking, “How can this be avoided on our campus?” Isn’t that a self-centered question to be asking while lives still hung in the balance? To me, the question implies that VT could have done something more to keep their students safe…but didn’t do it. How can we keep buildings safe? Don’t let any people in. You see, it’s not the buildings or campuses that are dangerous. It’s the people. It’s this world.

Evil is in this world. Hurt and despair live here. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our question should not be, “How does this happen?” but “How does this not happen more often?” The king of this world is an evil guy. This is not heaven. This is earth, where evil is behind many doors, and is often disguised as beauty, money, or even normalcy.

All over town there are signs, banners and prayers posted. Most say things like, “Pray for VT students and their families.” Today, however, I saw one that said, “It’s no one’s fault.”

Isn’t it?

Maybe the sign-writer didn’t mean what he wrote. Perhaps he meant, “Don’t cast blame. It’s not worth it. Focus on the good.”

But saying, “It’s no one’s fault” is totally inaccurate. Of course it’s someone’s fault. Someone took a gun and shot people. He decided, through his actions, who would live and who would die. It’s someone’s fault.

Let’s take responsibility where we can, and teach our children to do the same. We do things that cause pain. Admit it. Ask for forgiveness. Change your ways. In this way, with God's power, we will live as Overcomers.

Remember what it says in 1 John 4:4:

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Pray for this world. Pray earnestly to the Lord, "Thy kindom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. " And pray for VT.