beth0329

 I was reading the news online yesterday. I've decided to become more 'news-minded,' which means that I want to know what's going on in our country and more importantly in the world and the only way I'm going to know that is by reading and/or watching the news. So, let's hope that I keep up with this. Anyways, I was reading about the shootings at the University of Illinois. My friend had told me last week that he had shot himeself after shooting at students and all I could think was that he was a coward for doing that. It's bad enough that he'd go and shoot completely innocent people but then not stand up to the consequences, that's cowardice. 
But then I was reading an article about his girlfriend. She was talking about the fact that he was majoring in criminal justice and that he showed no signs of erratic behavior before it happened. It just amazes me that people can decide to kill people and be so calm about it, at least on the outside. I really wonder what was going on in his head. He was obviously a smart guy as he was pursuing his education and he wanted to change things being interested in criminal justice. He had a girlfriend and per her they seemed to be happy enough together. It really hit me though when she sent her thoughts to the families of the students who died (the victims) but then also mentioned that he was a victim too. I don't know if I exactly agree with her but it made me think about the fact that we never really get to know the person who committed the crime and I think that's because we don't want to relate to him or her. We want to think all the bad things about them and how stupid and wrong they are. It's hard to realize that they're people too. They have families, lives and problems just like the rest of us. And most importantly, Jesus loves them just as much as he loves you and I. He desires to have a relationship with them, he wants them to come to him to completely wash away their sin. That doesn't mean they won't pay for the consequences but I just think sometimes we're so wrapped up in the victim and we make the perpetrator out to be this monster (which sometimes depending upon the act it sure seems like they are) but his/her sin is equal to our lack of humility, our lies, our lustful eyes and the list goes on.
I guess that guy's girlfriend really put that into perspective for me and I thought I'd share.