Metaplanar Babel

I haven’t written in a while, but I think I finally have something to talk about. The shootings at Virginia Tech hit me harder than I expected. I haven’t been back in over 5 years, and I don’t think I know anyone who’s there any more. Still, I found myself on the verge of tears several times yesterday while following the story. It’s strange how a place that you spend some time in can become a part of you like that. I’ve been working at James Madison University for longer than I attended classes at Tech, but Tech will always be a special place to me. It deeply saddens me that so much death could have occurred in the halls that I used to walk.

I wonder, what could have driven a student to kill so many? I try to imagine what could have been going through his mind, but all I can think of is the fear that his victims must have felt, the fear that probably touched every member of that campus yesterday. It’s terrifying that one person, a single student, could have so profound an effect on such a large community. In fact, he’s reached out and touched the world, in a way, reminded us all that no matter how safe we try to make ourselves, no matter how comfortable we feel, there can always be that one person out there who is carrying the bullet for us.

I’m not much for prayers, but my heart and my thoughts are with you, Virginia Tech.