Today was another ordinary day in the life of a man who works a forty something hour a week job. I also serve as a youth pastor a church in a nice community known as Fountain City. We have the normal all American life here; we have all the things that unite families and friends. We value religion and little league sports. We practice neighborhood watches and looking out for our neighbors. I actually have a lady who goes through our neighborhood and put our newspapers on our front porch while she walks her dog. We have a ministry center that reaches out to those who are less fortunate. And we give our time to a great cause such as operationinasmuch where we go to work in our community as a large outpouring of support to our firefighters, the elderly, single moms, the less fortunate and just making our community a safe and beautiful place to live. I admit, I live a jaded life. My neighbors watch my house while I am not home and know if a strange car is on our street. My babysitters, which are also my in-laws live up the street from me along with several others who choose to live in this area because of the safe and wholesome environment that exists. School shootings are the last thing on our minds because most of the kids in our neighborhoods play sports and are good students who pretty much get along. So yesterday, when my Pastor called me to let me know that Central High School had a shooting and the details were unknown. I was shocked and speechless. Not in my back yard! It couldn't be, not in our safe place. As the day unfolded and the events began to become public we realized that it was an argument between two boys. Jamar Siler walked into the commons area and shot Ryan McDonald in the chest with a small handgun. The thing is this wasn't a Columbine type shooting. It could have taken place anywhere, but it happened in our school. A place where kids are supposed to be safe and get an education free from harm. I have the same questions everyone does. Why? Why do students feel like violence is the only answer to their problems. I believe it is just the way life is in a post-faith/value, Christian society. We live in a fallen world and that is part of the fallen nature of people. I know that sometimes it is "just because" and there are no answers. What I do know is that not just one kid was lost yesterday, but two. I attended a prayer service last night for the community. It was nice and it helped many of our families and students in the community begin the healing process. We were told it is ok to cry and express our emotions to one another. I know many who cried and were leaning on one another for support. The nice thing is that most of these kids get to go home to safe environment. They will have their parents to speak to about how they feel, their parents will hug them like I hugged my kids this morning. I admit, I was not aware of the "other students" who were not at this service who live near Ryan in the Lonsdale community. It is a neighborhood where kids are from a different type of environment. It is a harder life where kids have to be street smart to get by. As I stood in front of Ryan's grandmother's house, I got the strange since of guilt. A sort of sorrow that one feels who knows how he has somehow been blessed to be raised in a two parent middle class home. Now that I know that Ryan's mom had just been released from jail the morning of the shooting. You see last summer; I began to have a large burden for the students in our area. I began a ministry called Icarus Children (www.icaruschildren.org) to reach out to "troubled teens". Last night, I know more than ever that this is our responsibility as a community and as a country. I am sorry for both students that they went to school in the community and I neglected the opportunity to reach out to them as a youth pastor. I know that today is a new day. A new opportunity. I believe several artists have given us some insights on certain issues.
Everlast-
You know where it ends. Yo, it usually depends on where you start
God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Then you really might know what it's like. To have to lose...
P.O.D.
Last day of the rest of my life I wish I would have known cause i'd have kissed my momma goodbye. I didn't tell her that I loved her or how much cared or thank my pops for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared. Unaware I just did what I always do. Everyday the same routine before I skate off to school but who knew that this day wasn't like the rest, instead of takin the test I took two to the chest. Call me blind but I didn't see it comin and everybody was runnin but I couldn't hear nothin, except gun blast, it happened so fast I didn't really know this kid though I sat by him in class. Maybe this kid was reachin out for love or maybe for a moment he forgot who he was or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged,
Little Suzzy she was only twelve she was given the world with every chance to
excel. Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell she might act kinda proud but no respect for herself. She finds love in all the wrong places the same situations but different faces. Changed up her pace since her daddy left her too bad he never told her she deserved much better. Johnny boy always played the fool, he broke all the rules so you would think he was cool.
He was never really one of the guys no matter how hard he tried, with the thought of suicide. It's kinda hard when you ain't got no friends, he put his life to an end they might remember him then.
You cross a line and there is no turnin back he told the world how he felt with the sound of a gat.
Who's to blame for the life that tragedies claim no matter what you say it won't
take away the pain, that I feel inside I'm tired of all the lies don't nobody know why it's the blind leadin the blind.Guess that's the way that the story goes, will it ever make sense somebody's gotta know, there's gotta be more to life than this, there's got to be more to everything I thought exists.
whatever it was I know its because "We are the youth of the nation."
I want to leave you with the lryics to a Superchik song that gives me inspiration.
"Hero"
No one sits with him, he doesn't fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
Cause you want to belong, do you go along?
Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It's not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
And a kindness from you might have saved his life
[Tag:]
Heroes are made when you make a choice
[Chorus:]
You could be a hero - heroes do what's right
You could be a hero - you might save a life
You could be a hero- you could join the fight
For what's right, for what's right, for what's right
No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She's in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can't handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm and wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she's brave
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way
Each moment of courage her on life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
Heroes are made when you make a choice
Little Mikey D. was the one in class who everyday got brutally harassed
This went on for years until he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door, grabbed a four-four out of his father's dresser drawer
And said I can't take life no more
And like that life can be lost
But this ain't even about that
All of us just sat back and watched it happen
Thinkin' it's not my responsibility to solve a problem that isn't even about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice and be the voice for those who won't speak up for themselves
How many lives would be saved, changed, and rearranged
Now it's our time to pick a side
So don't keep walkin' by
Not wantin' to intervene
Cause you wanna exist and never be seen
So let's wake up and change the world
Our time is now
No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn't know he's the leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he's made
He lives on the edge, he's old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it's his right
The choices he makes change a nine-year-old's life
[Chorus:]
You could be a hero (Our time is now)
Heroes do what's right
You could be a hero (Our time is now)
You might save a life
You could be a hero, You could join the fight (Our time is now)
For what's right, for what's right
Let's be heros together!
Vernon
R.I.P. Ryan McDonald
God still loves you Jamar Siler! Forgiveness is a lot harder than hate!
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