“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21
I was a freshman in college in 1995. I was on my way to class when I heard the news that there was an explosion in downtown Oklahoma City. Like most of the world, I spent the rest of the day watching the news and learning about this terrible event. I was shocked as we later learned that this was an intentional act. It was one of the most horrific events of terrorism in my lifetime, and it happened in my home state. My heart was broken that day, now 27 years ago.
The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building took the lives of 168 people. They were husbands, wives, parents, children and so much more. We honor them with a beautiful memorial in the heart of OKC. We remember them and honor them because their lives were tragically taken from them. We remember them and we honor them because in their loss, we lost something as well. On that day, our eyes were open to an evil that changed our city, our state, and our world.
On that day, we also gained something. As we watched the amazing first responders and local volunteers work through the destruction, we began to ask ourselves, “What should I do to help?” We prayed! We started to donate food, water, clothes and needed items to the victims and those who were responding. We donated blood to help the hundreds of people who were injured that day. St. Luke’s opened its doors to so many and assisted in the work of recovery. Before long, the conversation changed from discussing the tragedy to living into the “Oklahoma Standard.” We were devastated at the loss of precious life and shocked at the evil that would set off a bomb in the middle of the city. However, we quickly realized that if we were going to overcome this tragedy, we would need to do so through kindness, love, and caring for one another.
It is estimated that some 12,384 volunteers helped in the recovery. In the immediate days and weeks after the bombing, people from all around the world traveled to Oklahoma City to work. Each person brought their unique abilities to care for a city that had experienced tremendous loss and devastation. The bomb rattled our city, but from the ashes emerged a renewed understanding that love, compassion, and caring for our neighbors is the standard we are called to live by. These are the things that overcome terror and evil.
As we watch the news today, we still see coverage of evil and terror around the world. Our response is still the same. We ask ourselves, “What should I do to help?” We pray! We volunteer our time, our talents, and our resources to make a difference in a person’s life. When we serve our neighbors with compassion, kindness, and love, we help to build a better world.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers.’ You will always find people who are helping.” – Mr. Rogers
