Last Wednesday a head-on car crash shook our community in devastating ways. Three young people (in their 20s) were travelling on their way to business in Las Vegas, and were hit, head-on, on the freeway. An 18-year-old girl had too much to drink, entered the freeway going the wrong direction, and ran her car into their Honda Civic at extremely high speeds (I have been told upwards of 85 mph, but I have not verified that speed). The Honda Civic was completely obliterated, the driver and passenger in the back seat were ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly. The passenger in the front seat was found, still strapped to his seat, 30 yards from the wreckage. As his friend said "It looked as if he had been scooped up and set down away from the crash." He is expected to make a full and miraculous recovery. He had to undergo surgery, but had no broken legs or arms, just a couple of ribs. Obviously there are other complications, but he is on the mend. He has a wife and two children. The young woman who died in the crash was married with no children, and the driver was not married.
There were a lot of prayers and well-wishes sent out for all families and friends involved, and there were some hurtful words spoken about the young 18-year old girl who caused the accident. She was found pinned under the tires, with spinal and head trauma. She also lost both of her legs in the crash. She was air-lifted out to the hospital, later transferred to another facility, and died of cardiac arrest later that night. So sad. A friend of mine said it best when she said "The Lord shows so much mercy." What a blessing it is for her to not have to live her life with the guilt and the difficulty she would have had to face after all of this is said and done. It may never have been over for her.
The same day, on the same stretch of highway, an elderly Idaho couple died when they ran into an overpass.
But it doesn't stop there. Last night, while John was working an overtime shift in a different building than his normal work space, an inmate, who was a member of a gang, hung himself. John's comment was "That's one way out of the gang." Probably his only way out.
Each of these situations were so different. And yet, they are all the same. So the question is, what is the value of a human life? Does it matter if one is a young adult making poor choices, working adults headed out of town on business, elderly folks travelling home from a vacation with the kids, or a member of a gang, locked up in a prison cell, paying for poor decisions and violent crimes? I don't believe it matters who we are, where we come from, or what our personal situations are. I believe that what matters is that we are children of our Heavenly Father. A Father who loves us all, unconditionally, and is with us through everything. He is there when we fail. He picks us up when we fall. He dries our tears. He hurts when we hurt. He rejoices in our victories. He mourns when we mourn. He swells with pride when we succeed and recognize His hand in all things. These tragedies matter to Him and I can only imagine the heartache He must feel as He allows us to make choices when He knows exactly how each will play out.
As I have seen the miracles of recovery and the community pull together to surround others with love and hope, I have such a redeemed affirmation that the Lord loves each of us. I know that He never will leave us alone in our trials. I know that He understands all that we go through, all that we love and know and feel.
One thing that I was surprised by through all of this, was to know how much I sympathize with both sides of the tragedies. I was surprised that it didn't matter who was right and who was wrong -- but that lives are lost, people are hurting, worlds are rocked -- that made me so emotional. There is so much hurt all around, so much judgement and so much pain. Who advocates for the families of those at fault? Who comforts those who stand in the need of comfort?
My prayer is that we can all be those who are needed in times of distress and tragedy. I hope that we can help all of those who need love, support, and sympathy, rather than pointing fingers. A human life is worth so much more than just the mortal moment spent here on this earth. A child of our God resides in that body. And that soul deserves the same love, compassion and kindness as any other.
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (D&C 18:10)
-- C
The same day, on the same stretch of highway, an elderly Idaho couple died when they ran into an overpass.
But it doesn't stop there. Last night, while John was working an overtime shift in a different building than his normal work space, an inmate, who was a member of a gang, hung himself. John's comment was "That's one way out of the gang." Probably his only way out.
Each of these situations were so different. And yet, they are all the same. So the question is, what is the value of a human life? Does it matter if one is a young adult making poor choices, working adults headed out of town on business, elderly folks travelling home from a vacation with the kids, or a member of a gang, locked up in a prison cell, paying for poor decisions and violent crimes? I don't believe it matters who we are, where we come from, or what our personal situations are. I believe that what matters is that we are children of our Heavenly Father. A Father who loves us all, unconditionally, and is with us through everything. He is there when we fail. He picks us up when we fall. He dries our tears. He hurts when we hurt. He rejoices in our victories. He mourns when we mourn. He swells with pride when we succeed and recognize His hand in all things. These tragedies matter to Him and I can only imagine the heartache He must feel as He allows us to make choices when He knows exactly how each will play out.
As I have seen the miracles of recovery and the community pull together to surround others with love and hope, I have such a redeemed affirmation that the Lord loves each of us. I know that He never will leave us alone in our trials. I know that He understands all that we go through, all that we love and know and feel.
One thing that I was surprised by through all of this, was to know how much I sympathize with both sides of the tragedies. I was surprised that it didn't matter who was right and who was wrong -- but that lives are lost, people are hurting, worlds are rocked -- that made me so emotional. There is so much hurt all around, so much judgement and so much pain. Who advocates for the families of those at fault? Who comforts those who stand in the need of comfort?
My prayer is that we can all be those who are needed in times of distress and tragedy. I hope that we can help all of those who need love, support, and sympathy, rather than pointing fingers. A human life is worth so much more than just the mortal moment spent here on this earth. A child of our God resides in that body. And that soul deserves the same love, compassion and kindness as any other.
"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (D&C 18:10)
-- C
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