Lord, Have Mercy

Dear Ones,

Of your great mercy, I ask you to pray for the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg, Virginia communities, in the wake of bomb threats and shootings today, which have left more than 20 people dead and another couple dozen injured. The entire campus is on lockdown right now, as are the local public schools, and I can only imagine the fear and helplessness that parents, spouses, and other loved ones must feel right now.

For the record, I participated in Virginia Tech’s MBA program last year (2005-2006), so I have a number of friends scattered across the state, as well as professors of whom I am quite fond. It’s hard to walk ten paces here in southeastern Virginia without bumping into a Tech alum. My sister-in-law graduated from Virginia Tech in the 1990s.

Blacksburg is a beautiful town in the mountains of Virginia, normally a quiet and peaceful place. The ripples from this frightening day will affect the town for quite some time.

Update: These personal accounts are revealing and chilling.