[updated Monday, January 10, 7:00 A.M.]
The events of the weekend concerning the tragedy in Arizona have flooded the news shows, the talk shows, and the special news programs. The events were the subject of last-minute bulletin articles; the prayers of God’s assembled people included petitions on behalf of those involved and our nation. An early press release from Christian Chronicle revealed the church background of the Dorwan Stoddard, one of the six persons who was killed. According to a church spokesman from the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ in Tucson, the Stoddards went to the supermarket near their home Saturday morning to see Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was hosting a “Congress on Your Corner” event. Dorwan died attempting to protect his wife from the gunfire. The Stoddards were very active in the church, assisting with various construction, maintenance and benevolent projects. Besides Stoddard, the Associated Press identified those killed as U.S. District Judge John M. Roll; 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green; Giffords’ aide Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Dorothy Morris, 76; and Phyllis Schneck, 79. Fourteen other persons were injured.
Another story that has grabbed the attention of the nation is that of Christina Green. A Los Angeles Times article described her as kind and a good speaker who had had just been elected on the student council of her elementary school. She was born on September 11, 2001, and featured in a book called Faces of Hope. Her father, interviewed on national television, noted that her life began on a day of tragedy and ended likewise, although the middle was very good.
Certainly our hearts and thoughts go out to every family affected by this tragedy. We often fail to recognize the nature of our fallen world. Ours is a world where evil is not automatically suppressed. May we do everything possible to be the presence of Christ in the world where we live and to share the good news which has life-changing power!