By Anne Lastman 

“My ways are not your  ways”(Iss.55:8-9).

We have often heard the comment made by God  “my ways are not your ways.” 

Maybe we have just seen an example of this. 

We have prayed for what seems to have been such a long time for a turning from this violence which has overtaken the world and as usual  quietly expected to see the Lord  show up in the air, or even  to see the heavens open and show that he really does exist and hears the millions of prayers for peace.  

But his ways are not what we pray for because we hope to be-able to see that they are being answered as we ask for and because of our own thoughts miss his workings amongst us. We do not recognise his workings when they are being worked in our midst because our eyes are looking for our projections.

Campuses full of students praying and singing not heavy metal or rock  music, not lights flashing, and bare flesh in abundance on stage,  paid millions for this performance, but quiet youth praying and singing words and songs of praise. 

We see thousands, mostly youth, march with banners saying the name of Jesus, Immanuel, God saves, this, even in Washington, capital of the free world. 

We see these events all around the world. Youth forming a circle of quietude, peacefulness, prayer, and song, and know that indeed Jesus hears and acts not in ways we think he should and visualise this,  but in his way which as he says in Isaiah our ways and his ways are world apart and he acts in a way to give a chance for all to join in, see and understand that peace is so much better than chaos. 

This new way did not begin with a man going from university campus to university campus where he spoke about faith,  morality, peace, family, love. This he did, but this was only  laying the groundwork for the change needed to eliminate and move away from the chaos.  

It was a single shot which whizzed unexpectedly through the air which did this. 

First shock, then fear, then horror at what had happened, followed by media, stories, interviews,  words and tears by all and sundry. Words of sadness and a sense that something too horrible had happened. From the humblest human being to those in the  highest echelons uttered same words.  Disbelief. 

Sorrow and pain for those the victim ( Charlie Kirk) left behind. Simply a real sense of disbelief for days,  and  almost immediately the gatherings first  in small groups, began  slowly growing into whole   campus’ groups. The whole campuses. The  prayers and singing began and still two weeks later these miraculous events have not stopped. 

I am reminded of  George Floyd also tragically murdered but the two  responses were worlds apart. 

One angry group which retaliated with more violence and uncontrolled destruction, looting, burning, and all manner of horror encompassing suburbs. Hatred which spewed forth vengeance and of course the effects of revenge. 

Then we have an unknown, unexpected response to another brutal murder. And response first silence then prayer and songs of praise to God. Amazing Grace heard from Campuses  to streets, schools, parks,  Vatican to streets. Rosaries prayed, and for once media showed the different  response to violence,  prayer which does not dismiss the event but in an instant makes that U turn towards a different way. 

The grief we feel for Charlie’s family, parents, wife, children,  who won’t understand what has happened, just that daddy won’t be coming home. 

The sadness we feel for the rest of family, friends, colleagues, and those he carried with him from campus to campus, this is normal. Grief must be felt first before it slowly eases changes life and finds a secure place in our hearts  and in our care. We must 

also weep for the family of the perpetrator and how their life will be forever changed. Future for themselves and their son changed,  and maybe for a  single moment a prayer for that young man who in an instant of madness did the unthinkable. It’s a death which has attempted to  stop the  reach of  a previously unreachable cohort.

We are reminded of another time, another place, another man who died in order to begin the U turn not for a cohort  (youth) but for a whole humanity.  This latest was to gather the young . The future. The  previous one a much greater death also needed for the  change of the whole human campus.

The words of (Jn11:51) Caiphas said “it is more expedient that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish”

Jesus died to change humanity from sin to life.  Charlie died and his nation ( youth)  stopped and looked at  the road before them and the hope for a new road.