Being in an inner city school has showed me so much and left me wondering about so much else....
How do you react when six girls in your small group, ages five to eight ask you to pray for their Dad's in jail? How is it possible that children think it is normal, even funny, that they saw 6 police cars in their neighborhood that morning before school. How are these children so immuned to violence and rage? Why are they not frightened when their school is locked up do to police activity? All this is just the normal things in their life...
What about the eight year old student at my school who witnessed his mom being shot five times and killed? In his own home, by someone who he believed cared about his mom? Is there any way that boy can be healed from this horrifying event? How will he ever cope?
All this just reminds me of what sin does, the consequences of sin in this world, making me more aware of the anger, corruption, evil, violence, hatred, and how much WE NEED LORD and GOD's GRACE.
And me...where do i fit in...how do i respond.. Are there any words that can be offer? Any consolation I can give? Somehow, "Im sorry" doesnt seem to do it. And "God loves you" - well thats easy for my to say -me who cannot even relate to this boy's life before this murder, nevermind after. "God has a plan", well thats nice...and where does this poor eight year old boy fit into it. It is not that I am saying God doesnt have a plan, or that He is not Love, but how on earth can I even do anything that would show this boy any comfort or love from God. I dont have the words or the answers or any understand or solutions. I just know i want to be there for that hurting child and all the others. God use me, as imperfect as I am to touch a world in need, work through me despite my failures that I may bring glory to your name in response to the grace you have shown me.

Lord heal this broken land. Heal these broken people. For your Glory.