Sunday, October 28, 2007

Monsters

Today I read the front page of our Sunday paper with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat. The news hit a little too close to home today.

A young woman was found murdered in the trunk of her car this weekend. Although no one knows exactly what happened yet, she apparently disappeared after answering an ad for a nanny on Craigslist.

Her father is a pastor at a Lutheran church not more than a mile from where I live. He is a part of a clergy group I attend.

I had not heard of Craigslist before yesterday. I don't know much more about it today. After church today, one of my parish members told me that it started out as a way to barter, or share: goods, ideas, services. He said that he has used Craigslist himself a few times.

The young woman's family said that she "always believed the best about other people." She was a beautiful, talented young woman.

At church this morning, the children were invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes for worship. The children's choir sang a song called "Monsters", inviting us to chase away the scary monsters in our lives by the power of Jesus' love.

After church, I talked to a friend about the news story, and the young woman. He asked me whether I knew this pastor. I said I did. Then he shook his head and said, "There are a lot of monsters out there."

Thinking of the children's choir, I replied, "Real ones."

Still, I think the young woman was right to always believe the best about other people. It will be harder to live by that light now.

Please pray for our community, and for this young woman's family.

19 comments:

Lori said...

What an awful thing. Prayers going up now.

Fran said...

God have mercy and may she rest in peace.

I am so sorry to read of this tragedy and how close it is to your community.

So many prayers going out for this young woman's soul, her family and the community at large.

Gannet Girl said...

I'm so sorry, Diane.

Marsha said...

We shouldn't have to die because we believe the best in people, but sadly, in this world we sometimes do.

I saw this story on CNN. It always changes somehow, when it's personalized in any way.

I'm sorry Diane. Prayers for all concerned.

LoieJ said...

You had such kind words and prayers when this same sort of tragedy happened here in N MN just two months ago....Now they are being returned. Unfortunately, the parents and friends are part of a strange and unwanted community now. Dear God, may their faith in You keep them strong in the days ahead!

LoieJ said...

PS we really do need to pray for the family of the murderer as well. The parents are real people too.

Lindy said...

And this is just the monster we know about... G-d sees all and hears even the silent cry.

Be of good courage. It's only for a little while.

Prayers for all.

lindy

Pastor Eric said...

I heard about this story the other day and then someone I use to work with brought it closer home. When I was a program director at Camp Onomia in Onamia, MN this woman was a camper. Of course I can't place her face but it still hits much closer to home now. My prayers go out to her family.

Thanks for the post and bringing attention to this.

more cows than people said...

the revgals ring was chilled as this woman was the best friend of a missionary colleague of teri's- a regular poster- she shared this and asked for prayers during our 11th hour party.

i've been thinking about it ever since.

my sister found someone to drive cross country with on craig's list. it's a community based on believing the best about other people.

how terrifying.

strength and love and light and grace to you, to her family, to all the many effected by this tear in the human fabric.

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

only once have i dealt pastorally with a murder... and man oh man. God's grace comes through but so does the startingly reality of evil. Thankfully we rely on something much larger.

Carol Howard Merritt said...

Oh no... This is awful. Please let the pastor and his family know that we're praying. And update us if there's anything that we can do.

Just awful.

Unknown said...

What a terrible tragedy. I cannot imagine the impact it is having on your community, and you are in my prayers.

My wife has pointed out that my own theological anthropology is, in a very Lutheran way, quite paradoxical: that I look for the best in each individual, while expecting the worst about people as a group.

Yes, there are certainly monsters.

Jan said...

This is so very sad. So sad, too, for the trust of young people. . . sad for all of us who wish to trust each other (like here on our blogs).

Lifting up your community together in all of this.

Anonymous said...

I'm really sorry to hear this. Yes, there's a lot of evil out there, and most of the time it doesn't make any sense.

Unknown said...

Diane, I'm so sorry. This young woman and her family have been on my mind since Teri shared the story on Saturday. Such a small world, and really, this could happen to anyone who trusts in the wrong place.

gartenfische said...

Oh Diane. This is so awful. I am praying for her, her family and your community.

Terri said...

diane, sigh...praying...

Barbara B. said...

What a senseless tragedy... Words fall short...

emmapeelDallas said...

I am so sorry to hear about this, and her family is definitely in my prayers.

Judi