Painting by www.hannahjoiner.com
I’m sure you have heard the news. There’s no reason to recap details or re-analyze the circumstances surrounding the events of last Friday. Over the next week, our country will be inundated with stories and images of the 20 children and 6 educators who were killed on December 14. It only took about three minutes to traumatize a community and shock a nation. But as the whole story of what happened in those three minutes has been revealed, it’s obvious that evil was not the only force at work.
Here’s the point. I don’t disbelieve in God because evil happens; I tend to believe in God because of how people act when evil happens. How else can you explain …
- Teachers running directly into danger.
- Children intuitively rescuing each other.
- Strangers showing up to care for families they don’t know.
- Parents showing compassion for relatives of someone who murdered their child.
It only took three minutes last Friday to remind us there is evil in the world, but those three minutes also showed there is good in the world too. I hope the lessons we learned from the families and leaders of Newtown will challenge and inspire us. Romans 12:21 says, “Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The principle is clear:
Whenever you face an evil element in this world that harms you or people you love. . .
Don’t give up.
Don’t just go on with your life.
Keep doing as much good as you can
because it’s good that overcomes evil.
As simple as it seems, doing good is the secret to healing, recovery, and living beyond tragedy. The best strategy to win against what is wrong in this world is to do what is right.
Those three minutes will cause commentary and debate that will last for years. Everyone already has an opinion and each expert has a different spin on new solutions to keep those three minutes from ever happening again.
Some of the advice includes. . .
putting God back in the schools.
adding stricter gun control policies.
giving every school armed security guards.
stopping kids from playing violent video games.
creating better mental health programs.
teaching parents better skills.
These are important conversations to have. For the sake of all of our children, we should get better at stopping evil at the door. But improving policies and laws will never be a substitute for the individual responsibility we each have to do good in this world.
The reality is evil exists, but it never has to win. It may triumph for a few minutes like last Friday. But the story of Christmas reminds us that evil will lose the war and that good will ultimately prevail.
If you try to imagine what the children at Sandy Hook Elementary lived through during those last three minutes of their life.
It’s unfathomable.
It’s incomprehensible.
I decided instead to start imagining what the children of Newtown may have experienced during their first few seconds in eternity. It helped me deal with this event mentally and emotionally when my daughter Hannah painted a picture that depicted her perspective. I may be naïve but I embrace a concept of heaven where someday everything wrong will be made right.
While there will be a host of families grieving this Christmas because someone is gone, there will be at least twenty children who will spend their first Christmas somewhere too incredible to describe. Imagine what the first three minutes there was like.
Call me an optimist, but I happen to believe the first second in eternity will immediately erase the worst that evil can do in a lifetime.
As long as you are here on earth though, you are called to overcome evil with good. So whenever you think about those three minutes at Sandy Hook Elementary School look for an opportunity to do something good. And while you’re doing it, say a prayer for the families in Newtown, Connecticut.
I loved this! Thank you! The painting is amazing!
How old is the artist Hannah? I looked closely at the picture first with just the caption
“THREE MINUTES”… seeing the children hand in hand curiously waving,seemingly skipping… even from behind they look drawn to Joy! Precious little angels gathered together~
I most definitely would like a copy, note cards would be a terrific idea to spread Hope. I work with children and cannot fathom this innocence stolen~ To the parents and siblings~grandparents & families our hearts hurt for you.
Thanks Sister for sharing this~ I will pass it on!
Oh Reggie! This is so well written; I’ve been trying to figure out what to share with so many families who are asking how to best have those important conversations with their children; my youth who are small group leaders have also asked how to say things; thanks for once again sharing your heart, being a catalyst for “writing a better story” and most importantly for influencing those of us who are also influencers to “fix our eyes on Jesus”!! Merry Christmas
I was wondering if Hannah’s painting will be available anywhere for purchase. It is so powerful. I was moved to tears when I realized what I was looking at. I would love to have one. Please tell Hannah that her heart can definitely be seen in her work. Amazing! Thank you so much for what you said also, Reggie. I posted it on my wall. Fantastic perspective. It was very healing.
Since some of you suggested using the painting to raise money for families in Newton, we made them available. http://hannahrenaeart.bigcartel.com/ Two sizes available, and a high res image. Thank you for your love and support. Continue to do good and be a light for this generation.
amazing artwork. LOVE IT. would really love to order folded note cards and a smaller 8×10 size. any way she would consider offering these options?
This morning as I watched the story of this tragedy on TV I felt so sad for these families. The last few minutes of the children’s lives was particularly disturbing for me to imagine. Frightened little 6 and 7 year olds going through this horror. Looking for comfort I opened my bible to the “where to find it” page and saw the heading: an inspiring word for the bereaved. I was directed to 1Corinthians 15:39-58. it’s long passage so I’m not going to type it all here you’ll have to go read it for yourself.
But verses 51-58 are beautifully explained and confirmed for me by Hannah’s painting and Reggie’s words!
51: Behold I shall show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed.
52: In a moment (or 3 minutes), in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.
54: So when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55: O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?
56: The sting of death is sin (evil) and the strength of of sin is the law.
57:But thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord , forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!
Do good, love yourselves and one another. Evil is already defeated. It comforts me to imagine the children and teachers together in paradise. God bless us all! Thank you Hannah and Reggie!
Reminds me of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Thanks Reggie- just what was needed today.
Absolutely beautiful. I agree completely. Thanks for the reminder.
“But improving policies and laws will never be a substitute for the individual responsibility we each have to do good in this world.”
Choose to see and BE the good in the world.
I will see three minutes, today, through a different lens. Thank you.
What an awesome post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the beautiful painting. Only God can make something beautiful from the ashes of tragedy.
Thank you, Joiners! Merry Christmas!
When the only words were, “there are no words”‘ your insightful post and Hannah’s awesome painting, gave me a way to look beyond the horrible tragedy of last week. Thank you both.
And we know that Good will triumph in the end….
May God bless you all for your obedience to HIS voice! I like many have been consumed with every report, picture, article of those tragic events. I couldn’t stop watching and wondering about the fear of those babies last few moments. But GOD who is rich in mercy….led me to hear Him speak through your words and painting. My prayer this morning was “God help my heart to syncopate with Yours, my mind to think like Yours& my eyes to see like Yours.”……He just answered that prayer. Peace&Blessings❤
Wow! How well you have put into words what was the reality of each of those sweet kids and adults! They immediately stepped into the presence of God! Immanuel – God is with us – He was there!
And your daughter’s painting..oh my heart what a picture!
I believe all of what was said but I know from personal experience, it is difficult to get help for mental health intervention, when you try, if the person needing the help isn’t willing to accept it, and don’t think they need it! I have been there and know the person needing the help, who may be dillusional and irrational, has the right to refuse mental health help. This is so wrong at every level, as what happened Friday very likely was the result of a desperate family feeling helpless because of failure in our system to give help to the person requiring it, without their consent! If this isn’t addressed, the same thing will happen again, even if gun controls are tightened, as the irrational person will find a way to get a gun or other weapon to carry out their mission. We have to protect the innocent and help those who think they are ok and everyone else is crazy!!
I want to personally thank all of you for the sensitive nature of your comments and your prayers for the people who have been affected by this incident. It is refreshing to hear from so many people who genuinely care about their children and families in their community. We work hard to keep the Orange Parents blog a place where there can be a positive and healthy dialogue that is helpful. We were very intentional in this article not to get into controversial issues. We are not trying to create a platform to debate issues on this blog, instead we are looking for positive ways to encourage these families.
I have shed more tears in the past week then I think ever in my life combined. How DO we keep our children safe? Make our schools a fortress? Home school them? We can only pray that a solution is found, and that this NEVER happens again, to anyones angels.
Artwork now for sale to raise money for Newtown families. Beautiful idea.
http://hannahrenaeart.bigcartel.com/
Thanks Reggie~ My heart is swelling
We all needed to hear this. It is so easy to focus on the negative, the sorrow, the anguish….you’re right Good will always prevail in the long run. May God bless those families 100 fold. May this tragedy bind their families together and not tear them apart. Thank you for this excellently written post.
Thank you for these comforting words and a picture that speaks a thousand words so eloquently. I too was reminded that the precious children and teachers were so firmly in the grasp of Jesus and experiencing that which we have yet to see or know . . . I will share these words with our parents and volunteer staff. I’m praising God for the gift of words, wisdom and compassion he has given to you.
One of the most perspective altering principles you’ve taught me…”As simple as it seems, doing good is the secret to healing, recovery, and living beyond tragedy. The best strategy to win against what is wrong in this world is to do what is right.” BE…just BE.
Reggie, thank you for your thoughts so beautifully stated. Your daughter’s painting is a reminder of the sanctuary into which these dear, innocent souls were ushered and where they are safe from all sin and destruction. Now we need to remember their families and friends and to keep them in our prayers. Lift them continually.
I thought your posting of “Three Minutes” inspiring and comforting as I grandparent ten, six, and five year old boys. The newborn will get hers as she grows hopefully to old age. But, my daughter’s reaction is, “where is the protection?” I pray for the words to reply to her plea and fears. Help? Evil is all around us. My own father was sent to heaven at age 48 by a crazed serial killer. My family was devastated. We have to get better at overwhelming evil with good, quam primum. God bless America. God bless everyone.