perspective.

This is Jessica Ridgeway. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last month, you already know her name and her story.

Today they arrested the man they suspect is her killer.

And by man, I mean 17-year old.


Since the news has broken, I've gotten 3 different perspectives. Each valuable. Each wildly different.

First - I got a call from a listener to the radio station, concerned that people were so focused on praying for Jessica Ridgeway's family that they would also forget to pray for the killer's family. Her heart was especially for his mother who has to be going through unbelievable disbelief when her son turned himself in. I can't imagine what either family has to be going through.

Second - One of the high school students from my church texted me. She had classes with him. Sat next to him. Knew his name, his face and that he was nice to her. Her school is in emotional disarray today. I can't imagine what those who knew him are feeling... teachers, friends, parents. All feeling responsible for a crime they didn't commit.

Third - A friend of mine posted that there are people who die - in the thousands, all over the world and even all over this country - every day. And they don't get even half the attention that this little girl has gotten. I can't imagine the ache those families feel... but I'm sure the parents of Jessica Ridgeway envy their privacy.

A grieving community.
Two families losing their children.
A school full of confused high schoolers.

Where's God?

He's there. He's been in the teams of people searching for a girl they don't even know. He's been in the police officers who've worked long hours to bring justice for a family. He's in the counselors who are talking to students who have no idea how something so terrible could have happened in their own backyard.

There is evil. But the good that we see is the evidence of God. And it can't be ignored.

Let's remember life. And not take for granted the limited time that we have with the people we love.
Let's pray. For justice. And for peace. 

Life is short.
And in even the middle of all of this... God is good.

with someone.

In case you don't know me at all, I love being a part of student ministries. It's given me the chance to get to know some awesome middle and high school kids. I think they've probably taught me more than I've taught them.

Sometimes there's pie everywhere and I have a bloody nose. I am so cool.

One of my favorite students over the weekend said, "I just want to be with someone." Not in reference to having a boyfriend. Instead wanting to have that one friend that you can always call...
always talk to...
always text who you know will always text you back....
that you know loves you...
that you trust with all of the stuff about yourself that you hate...

I just want to be with someone.

Isn't that what we're all looking for? Over years of doing ministry and just being a girl, I know that's what in my heart and in my friends' hearts. I had a friend who used to tell me that she "didn't need anyone but God."  

I disagree. 

While God is ultimately the only thing that is stable and steady, the only Being we can put our faith and trust in, I think we were created to be in relationship... to be in community.

We need support.
We need accountability.
We need to be with someone. 
Or at least, I know I do.

And I'm incredibly grateful to the people who let me call, text or come over and eat their food and just hear me.

stability.

It's not fair.
It's not fair that good kids get hurt.
It's not fair that middle school students hear that their parents don't want them... from their parents.
It's not fair that people make terrible choices, and it affects you. And wounds you.
It's not fair that the person that you love, that you fight for, that you consider your best friend can take the intimate knowledge they have of you, and use it against you.

Kids are broken.
People are broken.
We're all broken. 

And it sucks. 
And I believe in a good God and trust that He is in control, but it's harder some days than others.
It's hard to not want to just take the pain away from the people that I love.

Sometimes I hate when my own world is spinning away well while I watch as people I care about lose theirs. And I wish my world would crash instead of theirs. Which is dumb. Because I should be grateful that what's going on in my life is okay. And be steady for the people who need stability.

So in the good times in my own life... while others are in chaos... I still need to follow hard after Jesus. Because if someone is going to lean on me, I should lean on something bigger. So I can point them to the cure, not just treatment.