In our thoughts: Church is mourning losses no one can make right

There isn't much that is going to make the congregation at The Lord's Table feel any better about the loss of their new and old friends during this weekend's horrific fireworks accident.

There will be no comfort in the results of the investigation that tells them what happened that Saturday morning -- and there will be no less pain if fault for the tragedy is placed in any one place.

And while they will feel some comfort in the fact that their friends and acquaintances are in a better place and healthy again, that doesn't mean that there won't be an empty seat or two that will make their hearts heavy and the tears flow.

What they will try to remember -- as they should -- is the impact Charles Kirkland Jr., Terry Holland, Lisa Simmons and Mark Hill had on their lives.

They will keep each member of their family who was lost this weekend alive through the stories and memories they will share.

And they will try to live by the faith that they say Terry Holland especially was an example of every day.

No, there is not much the rest of us can say to make them feel better -- Pastor Bill Wilson will do his best to help them with that.

All we, their neighbors and friends, can say is that we understand, we sympathize and hope that they will soon find peace -- at least for a while.

In the meantime, there needs to be a thorough investigation as to what happened that Saturday morning -- not just to place blame and not because it will make anyone feel better about those who were lost.

The inquiry needs to be followed through and the results reported because there is the possibility that this sort of tragedy might happen somewhere else -- to another town, to another church, to another set of families.

There is no way to bring back the members of The Lord's Table's family. They are in the hands of a higher power now.

But honoring their memory requires not only remembering their contributions to their community and their effect on those who loved them, but getting to the bottom of what caused them to be taken so soon.

Published in Editorials on July 7, 2009 12:34 PM