First, get a box of tissue.
My quiet little neighborhood in Idaho is coming to grips with a horrific tragedy right now. We are stunned, overcome with concern for the kind, young family, and unable to wrap our minds around their loss and their grief. There is no sense to be made of the situation, and we while we do our best to surround a young woman and her children with compassion, we are struggling to find some hope somewhere in the world. Last night I said to my husband: I have to think about something else. Something good.
He told me about his school’s special focus this year: Rachel’s Challenge. Full of hope and good in the wake of most devastating grief. Rachel was known for her kindness to everyone, a student at Columbine High School in Colorado. Yes, that high school, and yes, she died that day. She kept many journals which were later found and were so filled with inspiration that ultimately, Rachel’s Challenge was given life. Her dreams, her ideas, set in motion to make the world a better place.
note: the website has been loading very very slowly for me today and I haven’t been able to post links yet. as soon as it gets better, I’ll fix it all up. it’s definitely worth a few minutes of anyone’s time.
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Kimberly
...by day, making a home where the buffalo roam. By night, pretty much the same thing, punctuated by the occasional fantasies of sunny beaches, italian movies and sparkling lemonade.
Such a sad loss, but what an amazing idea.
That is terrible. I wonder why my Pocatello newspaper hasn't mentioned this tragedy?
I just got goosebumps when I read that story of the father of five. Such a tragedy. My heart is just aching thinking of it.
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net
I am sorry! And thank you for sharing BOTH stories…
Oh no no no no! It is so random that I would happen upon this tragic news through your site. I actually dated Lence for a very short time in college but had completely lost touch with him. What a terrible terrible thing for his young family. It just makes me Ill. He was such a sweet and softspoken guy… Thank you for alerting me to this so that we can keep his family in our prayers.
oh my goodness, this is awful. how very, very sad.
i love rachel's idea and wrote about it earlier in the year:
http://tinyurl.com/lrb2o2
i think sometimes we have to get busy doing good so that we can move past the horrible things that happen. rachel scott is incredibly inspiring – even at such a young age.