Lessons Amidst Tragedy

Newsletter article for June 2001

© 2001 by Rev. Paul A. Wolff

I’m sure by now most of you who get this newsletter have heard about the accident where a car crashed through and destroyed our fifth and sixth grade classroom on the day before Easter. I have been thinking about what I can learn from this incident, and what we as a congregation and school community can, or perhaps should, learn from this.

If you saw the aftermath from the accident, or if you have seen the photographs of the wreckage you know that this kind of incident is extremely unsettling. Possible reactions to this include anger that someone would lose control of a car and cause so much damage. Another possible reaction is fear. Could such an accident happen in broad daylight when children are in the classroom? Such reactions are quite disturbing. Is there something we can we learn from this tragedy without being overcome with anger or fear?

The day after the accident was Easter Sunday, and I reworked the Easter sermon to try to put it into perspective. In a message which kind of had the theme, “What could have been … but wasn’t” I noted that viewing the damage which was at the time still very much in evidence, it was easy to imagine what could have been. However, that way of thinking isn’t always constructive (except when planning to rebuild with more protection for our precious children). Especially on Easter Sunday a better way of viewing this is to focus on what didn’t happen. No children had been in that room for two days, so none of our students were even close to being injured, and they remain safe and secure to this day. Even the driver of the car was spared, which must be considered a miracle (especially if you saw the damage).

We can view the death of Jesus in the same way. The crucifixion of our Lord was a great tragedy, but think about what could have been. It should have been each one of us paying the price for our sins for the rest of eternity, but because of Jesus, that won’t happen. All who trust in Jesus will never be punished for their sins, but will look forward to a resurrection and eternal life just as Christ himself enjoys today.

Another lesson from this accident focuses on the driver of the car which crashed into our building. I would like to meet this man and give him a message. This may not be the same message as you would give to the man, especially if your children were students in the destroyed classroom, but I have a potentially life-changing message to give. I would tell the man who survived this accident that it is truly a pleasure to be able to meet him. Given the force of the impact no one should be able to meet him ever again. God must have something great planned for him to have spared his life after coming so close to death. I hope he appreciates it. Of course this message comes with a warning: Whether this crash was truly an accident, or whether it was an inevitable consequence of foolish actions, this should be a clear warning to avoid being in a similar situation again. The next time someone will surely die. But God is a merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in love. God often gives people second chances, and for that we should praise our savior, Jesus Christ.

Christ’s death and resurrection are the best signs of God giving us second chances. None of us should take them for granted. Not all of us have had near-death experiences, nor should we tempt fate by requiring such things to make us trust in God and give Him the credit and praise He deserves. What can someone say who survived such an accident except that “God has graciously spared my life, and I will praise Him for as long as I live, and even forever, should He give me the chance. And I know He will, because of Jesus.” To say anything else is to invite disaster. God is a patient God, but His patience is not infinite. I would like this fortunate man to know that God has great things in store for his life, and I pray that he appreciates that and takes advantage of this opportunity. It doesn’t matter whether this accident was out of his control, or self inflicted, this man can still give a powerful testimony of God’s gracious love, and God seems committed to giving this man at least one more chance to accomplish great things through Jesus Christ.

For the rest of us, we too, ought not to take for granted the second chance we have in Christ. Without Christ none of us would have any hope whatsoever of enjoying the bliss of God’s paradise. But because of what Christ has done for us, He gives us the whole world for free, forever. We all should act as if we have been miraculously spared certain death, because we have. We all were under a death sentence from God because of our sin, but Jesus spared us by dying in our place. God has great things planned for your life too, so put your trust in Jesus and give God all the credit and praise, and humbly serve Him in all you do.