Lately I’ve read several articles about the Columbine shootings, and it’s really made me think. In some senses, I rejoice, because these articles have been confirming the fact that a girl was martyred in that school, something the news media ignores. Not that I’m rejoicing in death, but when someone dies like that, it deserves to be heard. Her action can inspire thousands. But what I feel is sadly lacking from these articles is a call to action. I found this quote rather ironic, “Another student, Rachel Scott, seventeen years old, had just days before performed in the school play, cast in the role of an outcast, a student searching for herself in a world of peer pressure and popularity contests.” The writer was trying to show what a real person Rachel was. And yes, it’s sad that she died. But playing the role of the outcast? The very words ring in my ears. Outcast. Who were the outcasts? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. I’m not trying to justify their actions, but it seems that people need to realize just how important it is to reach out to people. If Jesus Christ had been at Columbine High, who do you think he would have had lunch with?
The whole issue brought a song to my mind. “Next” by Buck (by Mark Byrd, Hampton Taliaferro, Jeff Moseley, Dan Reynolds, Josh Wheeler, Dave Reynolds, Alan Brown, Mark Fahlstrom, and Rick Jacoby. Copyright 1998 New Spring Publishing/Bridge Building Music, Inc./New Tattoo Music/BMI, Tattoo Records/Benson Music Group). They say it better than I can, so here you go:
Lately I’ve been thinking about the games I play / And how He gave Himself away / And what that means to me / Lately I’ve been dreaming about the way He loved / And the way he suffered for / A wounded world that won’t believe / Sometimes I’m ashamed about the things I say / And the things I see me do / And how they seem so far removed / Sometimes I hang my head like the walking dead / When I dare to ask myself / What would Jesus really do
He’s alive in us / Jesus loves the hurting ones
What’s next? / Reaching hands out to the helpless / Fill pockets of the poor / What’s next? / Giving mercy to the sinner / Forgiving a little more / What’s next? / Touching those untouchable / Healing the leper’s sore / What’s next? / Loving those unlovable / Or what’s love good for
I’ve come to understand we are His hands / His goodness and His light / To the hopeless and despised / Now I’ve come to realize that the love of Christ / Is so much more than words / We are a living sacrifice
He’s alive in us / Jesus love the hurting ones
What’s next? / Reaching hands out to the helpless / Fill pockets of the poor / What’s next? / Giving mercy to the sinner / Forgiving a little more / What’s next? / Touching those untouchable / Healing the leper’s sore / What’s next? / Loving those unlovable / Or what’s love good for
Love is what is love is what’s next / Love is what is love is next / Love is what is love is what’s next / Love is… Love is… Love is what’s
What’s next? / Reaching hands out to the helpless / Fill pockets of the poor / What’s next? / Giving mercy to the sinner / Forgiving a little more / What’s next? / Touching those untouchable / Healing the leper’s sore / What’s next? / Loving those unlovable / Or what’s love good for