False Alarm
date posted: Jun 18, 2007
We made the news yesterday. After the morning service, some children and teacher found a note scribbled on a dry erase board in their classroom as they were gathering for Sunday School. It was clearly a young person’s writing with some mispelled words. there was not sternness or malice in the expression, but rather a flippant statement much like you’d hear from kids in jest. It wasn’t a note written to anyone in particular, but struck me as a random act of a young person who wasn’t thinking very straight. Were they troubled? Maybe. Or maybe they weren’t troubled enough to consider the weight of such a silly act.
Standing there, I wished it could be erased and forgotten and the morning could go on, but – we live in a different world today.”
We called the local police and they and the fire personnel came right over. Any decision by this time was out of our hands. A full evacuation was underway. Sniff dogs were on the way from Detroit. It was an exercise in escalating response to a mindless silly thing. Sunday School and second service would have to be cancelled. People whose cars were not within the “hot” zone were able to go home. Others found rides. We were allowed to take others in the Ganton people mover.
I’m thankful for our local fire and police personnel. They were kind and helpful. I felt sad for them that they had to spend their Father’s Day in heavy fire protection clothing on a very hot day responding to a nothing event only because we now live in an age of fear and rampant litigation. I felt sad for taxpayers who foot the bill for such comprehensive emergency response – sniff dogs all the way from Detroit! I felt sad for our second service people who were denied the opportunity to worship together as a church family. I felt sad for the four families who had extended family in town to celebrate with them as we were to dedicate their children to the Lord. I felt sad for the Cit Pat reporter who was trying to find some kind of story in it all. After a couple questions, I simply told him what we are all feeling today, “It wasn’t that interesting.” I feel sad for the young person who did the deed, along with their family. As of Monday morning, we don’t know for sure. The repercussions of such an act are serious indeed.
I am more happy than I am sad, however. I am joyful this morning for the church that reconvened last night. Youth groups, community groups, and a gathering of faithful Kingdom people who went to their knees in the sanctuary last night to pray for our church plants and ministries that are reaching new populations in Jackson County. I continue to take new joy in God’s faithfulness. It is a new week with new opportunities to serve our Lord. The prayer still rings true. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That is the real story this morning!
Pastor Mark