Of all of the stories and photos the last 48 hours the one that stands out to me was an interview a news channel conducted with Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott. You will recall Rachel was the first murder victim in the Columbine High School shootings.

In the interview Mr. Scott was asked how long it took before life started to feel normal: “After about 2-3 years. But I think about Rachel every day and miss her every day. But even though I have not forgotten I have forgiven her killer.”

Not only have the Scott’s forgiven but out of that horrific tragedy they created Rachel’s Challenge (http://www.rachelschallenge.org/). Rachel’s Challenge is an organization dedicated to empowering and equipping students to “combat bullying and allay feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion.”

It is clear that the Scott’s have not let the murder of their daughter neither define nor destroy their lives. I don’t know how one can do that except through years and years of prayer.

My prayer, my hope for the families of the victims at SHES is this: that someday, not anytime soon, but someday they will forgive. Not that they will forget but they will forgive. We cannot begin to understand what these parents are going through nor will we ever understand. All we can do is pray for them.

My prayer, my hope for each of you is this: that if someone has wronged you that you will forgive. That you will not allow any evil that has been aimed at you to neither define you nor destroy you. Not that you will forget because that is not possible but that you will forgive because that is possible through prayer.

In His Service,

Ed