Why?!

Last night, shortly after going to bed, I got a phone call that one of the South Bend police officers that I work with was shot. He was not on duty, not in a police car or in uniform. He was out on a date! Someone pulled up just past him and the passenger got out of the car. He walked past the officer and turned wearing a ski mask and holding a gun. His intent was clearly to try and rob him. Some of the circumstances are still sketchy about what happened next, but the officer pushed his date out of harm's way and there was an exchange of gun fire. The officer was shot several times, yet managed to also shoot the would-be robber. The robber stumbled his way back to his waiting car and fled for the hospital. The 911 lines in dispatch began to light up; people calling to report that shots had been fired and someone was down. Moments later it was discovered that the person was a police officer. Other fellow officers showed up along with paramedics and the officer was immediately enroute to the hospital.
A short time later, at another area hospital, a man arrived who had also been shot. You guessed it....the would-be robber. Police made their way there and the man (and his driver) were indeed there and appearred to be the persons they were looking for. They were taken into custody.
Back at the other hospital, the officer was immediately rushed to surgery. Shortly after coming out of surgery, he had two strokes and it was apparent that the prognosis would be pretty dire. Some of the things we heard were possible paralysis and maybe even irreversible brain damage.

Of all the things that were running through my mind, one question kept popping up. "WHY?! Why did this happen?"

I wasn't asking, "why did God let this to happen?" I have been through this scenario where an officer is shot, two previous times. I knew that God did not do this. This was the result of evil and its consequences, spilling from one person's life, into the life of another. I often tell my children that the consequences of their actions (both good and bad) affect so many others besides themselves.

My questions were "Why is this sort of thing happening so much more these days?" "Why do some people think that they are entitled to the belongings of others (often times, things they really don't even need).?" WHY!!

I stopped on the way home at Media Madhouse - a business where you can exchange video games/dvds/cds, etc. I spoke with Larry the owner about the recent situation. Just a few months previous, they were the victims of an attempted arm robbery. Someone had come in looking to take their cash (all of $150 dollars). The consequences for this would-be robber didn't turn out quite as he had hoped. The clerk pulled a gun of his own and shot the man in the chest. The shot didn't kill him, but he was also caught while receiving treatment at a local hospital.
When I told Larry of the incident with the officer, he was visibly shaken. Hearing the details of the incident, first he was brought to the point of tears. Then, just as quickly, his eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed and he got angry. He said exactly the same thing that I had been thinking, "Why?" He was mad that another person had to be the victim of someone else's selfish motivation (with a much more dire result).
But then, Larry did something that changed his outlook. He said, "I'm going to do something to help." His words words spoken with purpose and intent. Perhaps, since he had been in a similar situation. He wanted to collect money or anything he could do to help. After talking with Larry about who to contact to see about helping, I left - feeling much better knowing that there were others who shared my question.
I am praying for this police officer, and I know that is my way of 'doing something.'

For more information/updates, you can go to: www.southbendpolice.com/news