I don’t know if it’s appropriate for me to write about this tragedy. I am not a Virginia Tech alumni, nor do I even live in Virginia. But what I am is an American, and most importantly a man of faith. This is a sad time for our nation, and a sad time for the friends and family of those who have passed away. Yesterday, as I stayed glued to the television, and reports started coming out of a man who went on a rampage and the number of individuals who died, I looked in interest but didn’t want to believe.

This is a time now, where for some, the situation has not fully sunk in, and for some they are coming to realize the full impact of the situation. In any case, the death of so many begs the question as to why? We know in more details the “how” of the situation, but the why may be the question that will be in our minds long after this week ends.

The question of why did this have to happen to this college, this town, this state, and this nation? Why did it have to happen in such a cruel, sickening, and murderous way? Who deserves to have their life ended in such a manner? I’m afraid we may not know the answer to all these questions.

There is an almighty being that knows far more than we can ever fathom, it is in this being that we must put our trust and faith unto. We are but men, in a universe that extends far beyond our comprehension. We cannot know the bigger plan of our creator, but we can only believe that there is a reason for all things.

When a child dies of cancer, when someone dies in an accident, or in this case when our brothers or sisters are struck dead by bullets, we truly can never fully know the reasons why. But in death, our faith should not be diminished. Because, as much as we know pain and agony in these times, we shall know healing in return.

Virginia Tech will stand as the site in which the most tragic shooting in our history took place, but in the weeks, months, and even years to come it shall also be the place where faithful, strong, and courageous Americans stood united and showed the rest of America that tragedy is only the beginning of healing and unity.

Today we are all grieving members of the Virginia Tech Community.