Comments on: Easter at Columbine

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:38:02 +0000

In reply to Emma Binet. A beautiful example of "redeemed pain." --Philip

By: Emma Binet

Emma Binet — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 05:27:20 +0000

Hi,

i dont want to diminish the grief of the students in columbine. i just wanted to say that i come from a non christian home and became a christian after reading about Rachel Joy Scott in Rachel’s Tears. I’m still a christian 17 years later. God bless.

By: Suwandy

Suwandy — Wed, 01 May 2019 10:57:04 +0000

Hi Philip,

Thank you as always for a wonderfully written article that highlights hope in the midst of darkness.
In your own brilliant way, you have described vividly how God weaved His thread of hope through every brokenness and cracks in the pottery of life.

I found myself angered at the recent and sudden increase of violence and deaths. The massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand. The killings of Christians on the same day in Nigeria. The bombings in Sri Lanka. The shooting in Jewish Synagogue in California. Your writing has helped me to remember that God is always present and He can (and will) turn these sad events into unparalleled hope.

By: Ann O'Malley

Ann O'Malley — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 23:24:35 +0000

This is such a powerful message. Although difficult for me to read (even on the second and third reading, it brings tears to my eyes), it deepens my understanding of the ongoing pain in lives impacted by violence. I especially like the grief pastor’s analogy of scuba diving.
I wonder if the typical Christian’s lack of skill in handling grief stems in part from a misunderstanding of what true faith looks like. Some evangelicals seem to believe that if we have enough faith, God will fix our problems without our having to think or to do any hard work.
Many years ago, I heard a story about a Christian family that went something like this: The parents were traveling with their six children when they were involved in an accident caused by a grossly negligent driver. Two of their children were killed. The couple immediately “forgave” the driver and moved on with their lives. Within a few years, though, two of the surviving children committed suicide. In their now undeniable sorrow, the parents went to a Christian psychologist for help.
It turned out that they had never faced their anger, doubts, and grief in the deaths of their first two children. They thought they were being good Christians, and they appeared to be coping, but the life of denial was too much for the two teens who committed suicide. It was only after the remaining family members dealt with their trauma and turmoil that they found true peace.
It took work. It took time. It took courage. But God eventually brought healing when they stopped denying the pain.
There are signs that we’re getting better as Christians in dealing with grief, as people like you address the problem more openly. (Thank you!) I wonder if it’s also because believers in younger generations (like those from Columbine) who have experienced serious trauma and have found a shallow view of faith inadequate, are now being used by God to help the rest of us develop a more biblical understanding of what having faith actually means.
(Adapted from my blog at https://thosewhoweep.blogspot.com/2018/09/make-believe.html.)

By: Virginia

Virginia — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:53:44 +0000

Thank you again, dear Philip. This comes after the NZ and Sri Lankan shootings, and how can we understand that awful hatred that must exist to shoot innocent faithful people down. But we all come together to comfort, restore and love again. And this
is thanks to God’s love for us.
Bles you all.

By: Tim Ritchey Martin

Tim Ritchey Martin — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:54:01 +0000

Thank you Phillip Yancey for being such an inspiring weaver of faith and life and grace. Your writing always inspires me to think in new ways and to be open to grace each day. Blessings!

By: John W

John W — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 09:50:31 +0000

Always inspiring. Never trite. Faith in the real world. Thanks Philip

By: Vicki

Vicki — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 01:58:13 +0000

My friend’s son was one of the students killed: Daniel Connor Mauser. He was 15. He wasn’t even in the same grade. He was a sophomore. He went to the library to return a book.

Someone in my family was killed in a terrorist attack. That’s what led to my meeting his parents, Tom & Linda Mauser. Connor is her maiden name.

By: Ghavang Haorei

Ghavang Haorei — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 23:20:08 +0000

You’re my favorite writer and I love how you tell the truth by real life stories of God’s people. Thank you, Phillip.

By: Rachel Rim

Rachel Rim — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 21:01:46 +0000

Thanks for this poignant Easter meditation. I just used the story of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents in a final paper in conjunction with the prologue of the Decalogue, so it’s been on my mind for the past couple weeks. One thing I came away with after writing the paper was, “A God who is powerful enough to save (the exodus), yet tender enough to suffer (the exile into Egypt).” I don’t always believe both parts of it, but it’s a beautiful truth to aspire to believe.

If you’re ever in the tri-state area (particularly Princeton!), I still hope to thank you in person one day for being a literary travel companion for me these past several years. And I definitely have the letter you wrote me as a motivator when seminary feels like a questionable life decision 🙂