Sandy Hook Nightmare - Do you see Jesus?

I don't really have a lot to offer that hasn't been brought up countless times already from everywhere about the events that took place at Sandy Hook.

But I can't help but ask: Do you see Jesus?

When you look at the kids, no doubt you see him - how couldn't you.

But that's not where I'm asking you to look.

Look Here:

Look at Adam Lanza...the man (yes at 20 years old you are a man, no longer a boy at least) that shot at and killed 20 kids at Sandy Hook Elementary.

I'm sure right off you want to say "no." You might say you see "evil" or "the devil" but you don't see Jesus.  I want to say those as well at times.

But I want you to look deeper, beyond Adam...I can't say (nor will I) that Jesus wasn't "in" Adam that day.  But I do know this: Jesus was with him.

Jesus was right there, heart breaking, pouring out his love upon Adam as he unleashed an almost unspeakable horror. Jesus is always there.

Problem was, maybe, no one else was standing there with Jesus. (but that's a different post)

Jesus is with us, all of us, even when - or especially when - we fall, fail, and falter.  No, most of us won't fall to the degree that Adam did, but that doesn't make us better than him or him worse than us.

Yes, grief for the loss of the children.

But let's not forsake the grief at the loss of Adam - he too a child of God. In this case, yes still a child as we all are.

And yes, I am not forgetful of the fact that I personally am not effected by this and what I say may not come so easily were that a different story.

But we must remember who Jesus loves...all of us.

I don't recall there being exemptions.

Are you willing to assign exemptions to that love?

I'm not.

Jesus loves the lost as much as the found...and, at least at one time - if not again at some other point - weren't we all lost before we were found?

So look at the picture of Adam, of the man who shot and killed 20 children not even a week ago...

Do you see Jesus?

We can't all play the same position.

As much as I would love to be able to: I can't save the world.

Heck, I can't even save everyone in my state, city, neighborhood, block...I have to remind myself of this when I am frustrated at times at the feeling that I don't "do enough" for the world.

But I need to cut myself some slack.  First of all, none of us will ever "do enough" and that is just a plain fact Jack.  Second, we are not called as followers of Christ to do it "all".  We are called corporately to love.  Personally, what God calls us to do.

Many times I second guess what God calls me to do.  Simply because it doesn't seem "enough."  Shouldn't God be calling me to something greater? Bigger? More challenging? More life changing?

It seems to happen to some people, why not me?

Well, who's to say he hasn't?  In my hustle and bustle to "do more" I may have missed a calling.  Certainly I have ignored some as well.  However, that doesn't mean God stops calling us, using us.  But we have to remember, He's God, we're not - he knows what he's doing and he will use us in the best way, if we let him.  Nor can we do it all.

I played 3rd base during my "career" in baseball.  Yes, I played other positions as well, by my primary position was 3rd.  During a game, while a player can play multiple positions, a player can't play them all or even more than one at the same time.  Hard to play 3rd and catcher at the same time.  Or more obvious, pitcher/catcher.

We are placed in a position to play THAT position.  Maybe for just an inning, maybe the entire game.  But when we are placed in that position, that is all we are meant to do.  It would be silly for me at 3rd to feel bad that I wasn't pitching, or playing 1st...I'm playing 3rd, and while at 3rd I will play my best. And when the 1st baseman makes a fantastic diving catch for the last out, I will be happy that they did! Rather than guilty or envious.

Because in reality, we are all in this together like a baseball team. Yeah, the stakes are higher and we make far more errors than are counted, but if we accept our current position we are playing then we allow ourselves to 1) play our position better and to the fullest, 2) are joyful when others play their position and are successful!

I'm not a preacher standing before millions of people (perhaps we should all be thankful for that).  I'm just a guy, ordinary fella', but for today and until otherwise notified it is my position.  Now, I could be resentful that I'm not playing another more 'important' position - however, who's to say my position isn't important at all?  What if, in my position I influence and inspire the next Billy Graham? (that would be cool!)

I can only see the now today, this game....tomorrow is another day/game.  I can only play one game at a time, one position at a time.  Some days I'll play like an all-star, other days I should be benched.  But there's another game, God willing, tomorrow.

I can't do it all, I'm not God (again something we should be thankful for).  I can't play every position at the same time - and I won't get the chance to play every position anyway so I might as well enjoy playing my position and play it to the best, and enjoy when others play theirs (like Billy) well.