wondering why.........

Penn State university is facing the worst scandal in it's history right now. For those involved, it is their darkest hour. For the children involved, it has been and will be the nightmare they have to relive as facts come to light and more folks who knew what was happening are dragged into the confession. 

In the news today (11/18/2011) there was a story of a plane crash that killed Oklahoma State's women's basketball coach Kurt Budke as well as assistant coach Miranda Sema:

"The Oklahoma State family is devastated by this tragedy," Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis said Friday in the statement. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims."

No school should have to endure a tragedy of this nature, but it's especially unfair that it's happening at Oklahoma State again. One of the school's three charter planes traveling back from a men's basketball game at Colorado crashed in 2001, killing 10 members of the Cowboys' traveling party including freshman guard Nate Fleming and junior guard Dan Lawson.

Former Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton carried the burden of navigating his program through some dark days in the wake of that crash. Sadly, it will be Littell who has a similar responsibility this time.

Tragic events at two schools of higher learning. One deliberate, the other unintentional, but the reaction is the same: heartbreak, sorrow, pain and the loss of all that was normal and expected. Nobody wants tragedy. Yet life is full of drama. When we take our lives for granted, thinking that each day will bring it's own sense of dull outcomes, it is usually then that the applecart is overturned. 

For the many whose hearts and lives are tied to Penn State, my heart and prayers go out to each one of you. This was so undeserved and should NOT have escalated as it did! The ones responsible will live with their choices just as the ones to whom hurt was inflicted. For Oklahoma State, the pain is just as bad as suddenly people who were loved, respected and admired were suddenly taken away, and in as permanent way as Penn State. It is NOT for any one of us to sit in the seat of judgement regarding Penn State...and please don't pull the "It's Karma" card out. No one needed to die tragically in that plane crash and no one needs to be crucified now because of their sins against the children. What is needed is forgiveness, peace, as well as understanding. Just as in Jesus' day: 

...But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on, sin no more.” 

John 8:7-11