Amish Crossing
Originally uploaded by paynehollow.
In the aftermath of Monday's violence, the Amish have reached out to the family of the gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, 32, who committed suicide during the attack in a one-room schoolhouse.
Dwight Lefever, a Roberts family spokesman, said an Amish neighbor comforted the Roberts family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them. Among Roberts' survivors are his wife and three children.
"I hope they stay around here and they'll have a lot of friends and a lot of support," said Daniel Esh, a 57-year-old Amish artist and woodworker whose three grandnephews were inside the school during the attack.
-from an AP story
Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Sometimes, we are overcome with confusion, not knowing what is right and what is wrong. But sometimes a child, a friend, a community takes a sweet and impossibly powerful step and we know, beyond all doubt, that this is Right and Holy.
5 comments:
We have Amish friends from Lancaster County who are Eshes. We yearn for them and their community, but in many ways they are better equipt to deal with such tragedy - faith and community and pacifism and humility - than most other places I can think of in this country.
What an awesome witness the Amish have been throughout this tragedy. I think anyone who has watched the news coverage has been struck with the deep faith in Christ that these people embrace and the amazing depth of forgiveness they display. God has used this horrible event for good, and will continue to do so.
The Amish wa *is* The Way.
Absolutely amazing resolve they are showing towards the suspect's family. In some respects, they too are victims I'm sure. Clearly it seems no one on earth literally knows why this crazed lunatic did this.
What an unbelievably horrible and sad event. On a good note, at least society doesn't have to worry about this monster 'striking' again.
I've read about and admired the Amish ways for decades, so their community's reaction is what I would have expected. Nevertheless, I'm pleased that the media have made much of the warmth and compassion they have shown to the Roberts family. Would that all people would emulate them. "Bono malum superate": overcome evil with good - it's the motto of my English high school alma mater and one that's often foremost in my mind, especially in these troubled times.
Post a Comment