Virginia Tech

In the beginning, I was STUNNED and HORRIFIED like everyone else. "Not again! How many died??? What kind of psycho did it this time?"

But, as I began to learn the identity of the killer, I became distressed on a different level. "An Asian did it?" "What, a Korean American???" I felt SHAMED and almost APOLOGETIC.

First of all, on this day (5 days since the event), I still feel very sorry for the losses of innocent lives. I think as the shock value is wearing off a little, it's becoming more and more painful to think about all those young lives that are cut short and the grieving that their family has to go through for a long time to come. And, how about the professors who died. They probably never thought that they would die while teaching in classrooms when they first signed on to be teachers. What a loss, what a tragedy, and my heart and prayer goes to everyone who have been directly affected by this event.

On a more personal level, though, this event has made me think about many things - the state of America as a nation, what it means for me to be an American, and how I should live my life as an American.

In short, this event, in some strange ways, made me take more ownership of this nation that I have lived for the past 20 some years. It's no longer a nation that I "happen" to live in, or a society that I am trying to "fit in". More importantly, it's not a society that make me and other ethnic people feel suppressed and discriminated against - a sort of "victim mentality". Rather, I'm powerfully reminded that we are all in this together - the majority and minorities... the entitled and the marginalized... We are in this together because we all have the potential to affect others - both for good and in this unfortunate way for bad. Yes, this guy was a crazy guy, but through his crazy act, I saw the civic responsibility we all have toward building a safer and more just society. And, that includes culturally marginalized people like myself and other Asian Americans.

I pray for God's healing in the hearts of many who were directly affected by this event. But, I also pray that this event will give everyone a new sense of civic responsibility that goes beyond assimilation into the majority and one that is more powerful than feelings of victim-mentality that often result from one's failure to assimilate. And, I now know it starts from me.

Easter Reflection (John 20:1-8)

1. For Jews in Jesus’ time, they were strictly forbidden to go outside during Sabbath – one day of rest in each week. Sabbaths were on today’s Saturdays. So, when Jesus died and was laid in a tomb late Friday afternoon, no one could go near it until early Sunday morning when the Sabbath rule was lifted. Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, could hardly wait until Sunday morning to go see his body – to make sure all is well, to clean up his body, to put perfume and ointment on his body. So, off she went. The very first hour she was allowed to go outside. Mary probably couldn’t sleep at all on Saturday night. Because all that was on her mind was Jesus, her Lord and Savior.

What about you? What is the first thing that is on your mind? On each day, and in your life generally? If you had one thing or person to see, what or who it would be? What is the love of your life? What would wake you up at 5 in the morning of your life?




2. “The other disciple” in this passage refers to John – the disciple who wrote this Gospel. He was one of the twelve disciples who lived with Jesus for the previous three years. But, it’s interesting to note that it was only when Jesus was no longer with him physically that he “believed.” When he could see, he didn’t believe – because he relied on physicality. But, when he couldn’t see he relied on his spirit and believed in faith.

On this Easter morning, we don’t see Jesus with our physical eyes. But can you believe it! Can you believe that he rose from the dead and in his resurrection we are given a new life of faith and hope? Can you believe that in him you have salvation?

Easter Reflection (Isaiah 53)

One thing that strikes me is the fact that he “did not open his mouth.” Jesus knew what was happening – that he was being wrongly accused because of people’s jealousy and pride. But, he did not open his mouth. He did not try to explain himself and correct what has gone wrong.

Because he knew God’s will was bigger than what was right at the moment. “Yet it was LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer...” Jesus knew he was being wrongly accused. But, he knew God’s righteousness transcends the humanly sense of what is fair and right. Instead of fixing what has gone wrong around him – which he could have done easily if he wanted to - Jesus had his mind set on simply trusting and following God’s will. For Jesus, the cross meant trusting in God’s bigger will when “wrong” things were happening at the moment.

How about us? Are we seeking to follow God’s will? Or are we more concerned about doing what we think is the right thing to do? For example, will you be able to be silent about injustices in and around your life if God said simply trust and follow him? Could you believe God’s righteousness is bigger than what is fair or even what is right at the moment? Can you let God be God and simply trust him? In what ways is God asking you to simply trust him and in his will?