Boston Marathon Victims and other Victims: Innocent Bystanders

Boston Marathon Victims and other Victims: Innocent Bystanders

When people suffer for any reason it is upsetting. When people suffer because one human being or a group of human beings has become violent it is tragic. It's the innocent bystanders who are wounded. They have nothing to do with the other's violence--they didn't say anything or do anything inappropriate, they didn't ask for attention and they didn't deserve any pain. They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. And our hearts cry out at the unfairness and randomness. Our hearts rail against the violence that keeps welling up in our world. It shouldn't be this way; our souls know it.

Violence. How much nicer this world would be if no one hurt others with bombs or blows or threats of bodily harm. And yet violence seems to be increasing, not decreasing. People doing normal things in normal places--have their days and their lives traumatically cut short or altered by someone who isn't reasonable or responsible. There is nothing a bystander can do to gaurantee that they will never be there when violence bursts out. Nothing. We humans don't like that. We want to be able to ensure our own safety. But sometimes we are caught by another's violence. It's awful.

To all the bystanders who have suffered physically in the Boston tragedy or witnessed the tragedy and to all the bystanders in families who have witnessed or become the target of violence, may you find rest tonight and healing in the days to come. God cares. Bystanders are important people to Him. He knows each by name. He can heal wounds, both physical and emotional. He will be there for each of us no matter what. No matter how much evil has been done it cannot cancel out the true goodness and love that God is.

May the God of all comfort, comfort you. May the God of love, wrap you up in a blanket of healing love. May the God who sees those who are treated as if they had no dignity, lift you up and carry you through bad memories and fresh reminders.