Out of the worst can come the best

Once again, our country has been hit by a horrific tragedy, really a massacre. 30 or so college students murdered at Virginia Tech. Horrible. Terrible. Unbelievable.

Yet here's what I am learning, "out of the worst of us can come the best of us."

I believe without a shadow of a doubt that we will be hearing stories of bravery and courage in the next few weeks. Of students who either left their life on the line, or performed some heroic act of bravery as the murderer fired upon these unsuspecting students.

Let me give you and example of what I mean.

Remember October 2, 2006?

October 2, 2006, was a dark day for the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. That morning, a local milkman named Charles Carl Roberts barricaded himself inside the West Nickel Mine Amish School.

He was armed with three guns, knives, and over 600 rounds of ammunition. When police attempted to intervene less than half an hour later, Roberts opened fire on 11 girls—all less than 14-years-old—killing 5. After these brutal acts, he turned his weapon on himself and committed suicide.

It was a dark hour, but as more news became available in the days that followed, a new story began to emerge—one full of courage, faith, and love. According to two of the survivors, when 13-year-old Marie Fisher began to understand what Charles Carl Roberts intended to do, she made a request. "Shoot me first," she said, "and leave the other ones loose." As the oldest child in the group, she hoped that her death might somehow spare the other children or provide more time for their rescue.

Immediately after this request, Marie's younger sister Barbie added one more. "Shoot me second," she said.

News of the girls' bravery and sacrificial love impacted millions of people across the country after the story broke. But according to Rita Rhoads, a local midwife close to the family of the two girls, their faith also affected their attacker. "He asked them to pray for him," Rhoads said. "I think that's amazing. He recognized they had something he didn't."

How would you react in the same circumstances? How would I? Hard to tell. But I would hope and pray we would all act with courage and dignity.

I know you hurt for the families who lost loved ones yesterday. Can you pray with me -

"Father, we pray for the families of those who lost a son or a daughter, a sister or a brother, a nephew or a niece. Encourage them. Comfort them. Lift them up. Let your peace reign in their lives during this difficult time."