Wednesday, December 05, 2007

A Bad Day

The mall in Omaha where the shootings took place today is one of the few we frequent when we 'must' shop away from our little town. It is about a 50 minute drive from here.
As I write it's almost 10:30 at night and the 9 bodies (there may be more) as well as the crime scene are still being processed. The mall will be closed tomorrow and maybe more.
The shooter was a 19 year old man distraught over several things plus he was on medication for other 'troubles'.
Where do certain minds go to? If their minds were computers they'd have a burnt spot on their mother board I'm sure. What demon could make you want to "Go out in style" as the gunman said on his note?
There will be thousands of people in this region who will be deeply saddend by their eventual connection to this ordeal. Eventual because we don't know who was in the store. I fully expect a phone call that starts with "Did you hear about....?" I really hope I don't, but too many Nebraskans and Iowans will get that call. Offering up prayers on their behalf would be good. Thanks.

15 comments:

Rachel said...

Oh, this is so sad Cliff. I had not heard of this until just now when I read your blog. I don't understand how people can come to such a conclusion in their mind and think this is something they should do and go out taking innocent others with them. Just plain crazy and sad. My heart goes out to them and their families. Sure won't be a happy Christmas for those families. I will pray for them all.

nora leona said...

I've been thinking of you guys all evening. Awful.
I hope that phone call does not come...

Jerry in Texas said...

Cliff,
I've been to that mall too. That's just awful. I just don't understand if someone wants to end it why they have to take innocent bystanders with them. What a coward!

Prayers to those Nebraskans.

Miki said...

Cliff, yes indeed thoughts and prayers are sent out to the familiies of the victims. I never could understand why someone would want to shoot people that they have no connection to whatsoever. It is sad and twisted logic that people use when they buy a gun to do this. Hope you don't get that phone call...

Ralph said...

Events like that have far reaching and lingering effects, most of which are negative. I hope you are spared that phone call.
Ralph

Felisol said...

Dear Cliff,
thank you for being so kind to take the trouble to comment on my blog, bringing good news about my blog friend Jim.
I certainly hope you don't have to get bad news about any of yours after this horrible incident.
Media here in Norway have been shaken about the Nebraska tragedy.
Again: really sweet and considerate of you to bring calm to an old lady across the sea. Give Mr. and Mrs. Jim my best by their hopefully safe arrival.

Paul Nichols said...

You and Meritt (It's Just the Coffee Talking) have been in our prayers. It's really sad. We'll keep praying for those vicims' families. Thanks for the update.

Peter said...

The tragedy is Cliff, he is getting his desired "Go out in style" notoriety throughout the world with the coverage of this horrible deed.

EV said...

I'm glad you and yours are fine , Cliff. What a sad, sad day.

1 plus twins said...

when i heard about this i was wondering if it was near you. i am saddened that it is and hope that you don't get the dreaded phone calls. it truly is a sad day for eveeryone involved and the ripple effect it will create all around. it just doesn't make sense to me at all!! sad just sad!

Anonymous said...

What a terrible thing to happen. And my prayers and best wishes are with all who are affected.

Cas

LZ Blogger said...

Cliff ~

This senseless massacre is an extremely sad situation that seems to lack any sense of reason.

To use your analogy... I fear that too MANY motherboards have been burnt by EVIL. The fact that this young man had no clear vision that MAN was made in the image of God and then when you couple this with the shooter’s apparent lack of biblical understanding of the value and sanctity of human life and this is what can happen.

Fortunately, God can use something like this tragedy (that was clearly “meant for evil”) and turn it around so that it can actually be used for good. I would imagine that EVERYONE in the Omaha area went home Wednesday night and said a little prayer for the families who this tragedy touched and then also said a prayer of "Thanks" for those close to them who had been spared from this stinging touch of EVIL.

Genesis 50:20 ~ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (NIV)

~ jb///

JunieRose2005 said...

Cliff,

I thought of you and your family immediately when I heard of this horrible happening! I wasn't sure where your home is...

This is so very sad- for all those lost and all the friends and families...and for the young man, too, who had reached such a place in his life that he could do such a thing!

Jamie Dawn said...

Horrible, just horrible.
When I heard of this, I immediately thought of The Morrow family.
Not because I thought any of you were there at the mall, but because your family is my connection to that part of the country.
How senseless.
I wish that kid would have only killed himself.
It would have been sad, but not nearly the tragedy that it turned out to be.
God help all those involved, including the young man's loved ones.

Unknown said...

Thought of you when I heard that last week. A friend of mine wrote this, which is kind of thought-provoking:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=107434003&blogID=336210231
(sorry so clunky)