{Day 15} Interrupted by Bombs

This afternoon little Katherine woke up early from her nap, giving us time to scoot out of the city an hour earlier than expected, avoiding rush hour traffic on the way to the airport to pick up Elizabeth and my mom who were returning from Orlando.  We used the extra time to stop at the mall on the way and play at the children's play area.  That was fun!

After about an hour of play, we made our way to the airport, parked, and went into wait at the baggage claim.  It was so good to see those two again!  Naturally, Brian annoyed his sister the majority of the way home.  (He really missed her!)

Part of the way home, I got a text from my sister that read, "I hope all of your Boston friends are okay :("  Since I was driving I called her to find out what was going on.  She filled me in briefly on the bombing situation.  :( , indeed.  Horrific.

2008 Boston Marathon
Popping across the river to see it was a yearly tradition!

It's disturbing (interrupting!), isn't it, how we can be going about our days in one part of the world and life is all joy, while in another place, (maybe even next door) great suffering and tragedy have taken over?

A few days back I was struck by verse ten of Psalm 97:

Let those who love the Lord hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones 

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

I reflected briefly on it in my journal, the general idea being that I don't know how to interact with evil - how to react to evil when I encounter it - especially in remote situations, everything from exploitation of the poor to dramatic one-time occurrences like what happened in Boston today.

Today reminds me that the only place of real safety is in the arms of Christ.  And I can trust Him, as well, to help me process the evil I see around me and the evil I find inside of me.  He's well aware of it; rescuing His people from it is what took Him to the cross.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

That grace always interrupts me, even more so in the middle of disturbing interruptions in normal life, like today's.

Thinking of the people of Boston and the wider running community tonight.  We're waiting for you, Lord.