Not Funny

When I heard the news yesterday about the horrific killings at an Amish school in Pennsylvania, a stupid little voice--I call it my "inner stand-up comedian"--intruded into my thoughts. "Hey, did you hear the one about the Amish drive-by shooting?" it asked, unaware of how embarassingly inappropriate that thought was. Of course, I'm not going to tell you the joke. It's not funny any more. But it was funny at one time. Absurdity is the foundation for humor. And up until yesterday, the mere juxtaposition of the word "Amish" with the phrase "drive-by shooting" was absurd. No group has worked harder than the Amish to insulate themselves from the stresses of the modern world that cause unstable people to snap and go berserk with guns. No group has developed a more tightly-knit, supportive, and protective social network. Evidently no amount of isolation, insulation, or protection can guarantee absolute safety, even for the Amish. Unfortunately for them, they've been forced to join "the modern world," in the ugliest way possible. Let us who are believers join them in their world of simple trust in God as we pray for their healing.