Monday, October 4, 2010

Between the Boy and the Bridge

Last week, my heart was broken by news reports regarding 18-year-old college freshmen Tyler Clementi, who ended his life by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after learning that college classmates had set up a live webcam in his room capturing moments intended to be private and sharing those moments on the Internet...

Dr. Al Mohler writes a penetrating and profound article on this tragedy... As I read Mohler's article this morning, I was struck by the questions Mohler asks towards the end of the article:

"What if Tyler Clementi had been in your church? Would he have heard biblical truth presented in a context of humble truth-telling and gospel urgency, or would he have heard irresponsible slander, sarcastic jabs, and moralistic self-congratulation?"

"Was there no one to step between Tyler Clementi and that bridge? Was there no friend, classmate, or trusted adult who had the courage and compassion to reach into his life and offer hope? Was there no one who could tell him that the anguish of his moment would not last for his lifetime? Was there no one to put into perspective the fact that people who did not love him had taken advantage of him, but that the many who did love him would love him no less?"

Mohler ends the article with this powerful and profound paragraph:

"I am haunted by the one question that seems so obvious and clear in the account of Tyler Clementi’s tragic death. In those days of crushing anguish, humiliation, and confusion, was there no one who could have stood between that boy and that bridge?"

You can read Al Mohler's entire article by clicking here. I recommend that you read it and share it... This is one of the most powerful and insightful articles I've read in a long time...

Share it with your friends... And then pray... Pray that God would make me... That God would make you... That God would make His church... That God would make us...people who lovingly stand "between the boy and the bridge."

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