Almost A School Shooter

"Sometimes I walk by my school and I wonder how many people I could actually take out before they shot me."

by Johanna Spille

This isn’t something I have told many people, but I think it’s appropriate now, given recent events.

Years ago when I was a youth pastor, we had a young man come to our youth group. I could sense something was wrong. I asked him if he was ok and he said, “Yeah, I’m fine.” But the look on his face said something different. I asked him to come talk to me.

We stepped outside the room and we began to talk. I began to see how deep this young man’s hurt was. He was so angry. Then he said something that still sends chills down my spine:

“Sometimes I walk by my school and I wonder how many people I could actually take out before they shot me.”

I asked him if he had access to a weapon. He did. I told him I cared so much for him and I was going to walk beside him in this. I also told him I needed to say something about this. He replied, “I know”.

Fortunately we had a close relationship with law enforcement. We involved them, and his parents took what he said seriously. They got this young man the help he so badly needed. Today he holds a job and is doing very well.

I don’t share this so you will pat me on the back and tell me “good job”. Please don’t. I believe that every single one of us can make a difference just by showing up, paying attention to the people in our lives and the people we come into contact with who may be hurting so deeply that they want to cause such pain and destruction.

It’s so easy to say that the problem is too big. “I’m just one person.” But sometimes, one person is all it takes.