Perspectve

I'm sure all of you have heard about the shootings here in Colorado both at the YWAM campus and at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. We had just gotten home from church when my Dad hollered down the stairs to tell me that New Life was just on a special news bulletin. My mind immediately flew back to April 20, 1999. I was driving home from my job at Focus on the Family when they broke through on the radio with news of the shootings at Columbine High School. My heart broke. I didn't go to school there, but Littleton was my home, and my community was hurting, and I was so very far away. Everything was over by the time I heard, but I prayed that everyone I knew there was safe. It wasn't until two days later that I learned that someone I knew had been killed. Steven Curnow—one of the kids I had in daycare during the summer.

I felt the same way this past Sunday. Colorado Springs is my home, and my community—my friends, my relatives, my brothers and sisters in Christ are hurting, and once again I am so very far away. We was relieved to know that the one person we was most concerned about, Ben's Aunt Mary, had left the parking lot a mere 10 minutes before everything started.

Below is from an email my friend Sarah sent me. It's from a friend of hers who was at New Life on Sunday. I hope her account changes your perspective as it did mine.

I wanted to share with you what God has done in my heart and mind because of being so close to loosing my life this Sunday.

I was fortunate to have come alone this Sunday to church. My girls stayed home to rest from the Wonderland performance. My husband slept in for some much needed extra sleep. I almost stayed home but felt the Holy Spirit get me up even before my alarm was to go off. I parked my vehicle at the very corner of the building
where the shooter had entered. After service I made a call on the courtesy phone to my husband since I left my cell at home. My kids and I were going sledding that afternoon and I wanted to find out if they needed anything from Walmart before I came home. After the call I spotted a friend I hadn't seen for a while, Laura Caine. She and I have been friends for 11 years and here daughter is going with us to Florida on our vacation this Christmas to help with the kids.

We talked in the hall for several minutes and finally walked to the corner of the tag chapel hall and the main hall. We heard three shots and I had thought it may have been something that had fallen on the new tile floor flat that had made such a loud clap. Laura immediately knew the sound and she along with hospitality pushed me and two others into the chapel. When I heard screams and men shouting to get out of the building I knew it was a gunman.

All of us ran out of the back door of the tag chapel and out the hall door to the out side. I ran behind a car and most of everyone left in their cars...mine was too close to the door where the man was.

A friend was getting in his suv in panic and disoriention. He couldn't think. I asked him for a ride to my car, he was focused on his wife and kids who were still in the building. Laura and I scrambled into his car and Laura loaned him her cell to try to get a call to his wife. She was the last person I saw come out of the campus....with the two kids under each arm. He shouted for us to get out and they drove out of site. Laura and I hid as well as possible as shots rang out. Laura was wearing a red jacket and Pete yelled to her from a row over to take it off. I called my husband on Laura's cell. He thought I was joking. The panic in my voice told him I was not joking.

Ross Parsely was further back away from the church and ran over to us to make sure we were ok. The concern on his face was unmistakable. Ten minutes into the event, the swat team began to arrive. They told everyone to get into our cars and leave, I told him my car was directly in front of the door where the gunman was so he told everyone who coulldn't leave to go to the World Prayer Center. High heels and ice, I didn't care I ran! Laura close behind me. Everyone was directed to the basement to a little room that looked like a secluded teleconference room. Teens, elderly, Children everyone left in the building that could get out were stuffed in this little room. Fear was overwhelming for me and the others. I was so glad Laura was there. Then I saw a little boy come down the steps and into the room in tears and fear all over his face. I didn't know what he had been through but I knew it was intense for his little heart and mind. As a mother, I forgot myself and
focused on him. I grabbed him and held him while he cried. After a few minutes, he slowed his tears and we got more acquainted. He had seen the whole thing unravel. He was one of two surviving witnesses.

No one knew anything, A couple of guys had laptops and tried to get information of the internet but everything was so vague. No one knew the truth and most of it was media bunk. Everyone shared cells and called family to find out who got shot and who was ok. We finally started praying and singing praise to God and a couple of girls were warring in the Spirit. An hour or two passed and we were finally able to go upstairs to the WPC living room(chapel). Mel Waters boys were still hiding under his desk in the upstairs offices. He was concerned but his confidence of God's protection over his boys was encouraging. I admire his faith.

It took alot of patience and trust during that time. I realized that had I not stopped to chat with Laura or even not as long, I would have walked down that main hall to where the activity center was and exited out the last hall door. I would not be here today.

I have been working so hard to help my husband raise money for Christmas and putting so many hours into work that I haven't taken time to enjoy the season. The stress of marriage, finances and kids and an upcoming vacation has really taken the peace out of our home.

Four hours later, I went home feeling numb, but with one raw realization. It doesn't matter what you do for Christmas, how much money you have, your family is the most important thing you have and you cannot take that for granted. You or one of your family members could be snatched away forever. Every moment is precious. Suddenly, my business wasn't so important. Money is least important. I could care less if there is enough money for our trip.....Enjoying the season and the gift of life given is the most important thing for us to focus on. We are gifts to each other, if we don't appreciate the gifts we have, one day it won't be there anymore. "Things" don't matter. Being with my family matters.

Because of this tragedy, I am talking with family members that I have not spoken to for years. There is no "I" in Christmas. Time is short and we must love much with the little time that is left.

Don't forget to make cookies with your kids this Christmas....

Shalom~
Susan Adams

Tell your friends and family what they mean to you and worship the Lord as you never have before. Don't let the enemy win in your heart when LORD Sabaoth has already utterly defeated him.

posted by Brandi at 11:24 AM