How something can touch your life

October 2, 2006 started out like any other normal day for most people in south central PA. It was a beautiful, sunny day nothing out of the ordinary about it.

That is nothing out of the ordinary until approx 10:45 am when a 32 year old man from Bart PA entered a one room Amish school house and proceeded to tie up 10 girls ranging in age from 6-13. This man Charles Carl Roberts IV seemed like a normal, average father of 4, one of whom was born and died on a November day in 1997. He was a milk tanker truck driver who picked up milk from several Amish farms in rural Lancaster County. This man changed a lot of peoples lives that day, not just the Amish or the first responders or police who showed up that fateful morning but he also changed mine.

That morning, I couldn't even tell you what I had been doing, I don't even remember what I had been doing when I heard the news that some man shot to death 5 young Amish girls and severely injured 5 others. I do know that the way the Amish community and those in the Lancaster, Lebanon, and Berks county communities responded that day and the days afterward changed how I think about things.

I have always been intrigued by the Amish. I grew up where there were a few Amish in nearby communities but it wasn't until I moved to Lebanon County PA that I really grew to love them. I've read numerous books from various authors about the Amish and really feel like I know them. Most days when I leave my house to go somewhere, I pass a horse and buggy driving and my 3 yo loves to see the horse and buggies.

But that day in October really showed to me what the Amish are really like. They are forgiving and are truly God fearing people. These people felt a lost that I never want to feel, one that I don't know that I could cope with but they faced it like a true Christian. One that knows that God expects us to forgive and to help others. They understand that their loved one will be in Heaven waiting for them one day. They understand that they need to forgive to move on with their own lives and that's just what they did.

Last night on TLC, there was a special on this horrible disaster and it really touched me. I've seen all the news footage on this but to see it all combined like this was really amazing.

75 Amish people attended the funeral of Charlie and have lent their support to his wife and their kids. Do I think I could do that if someone were to kill my child? No, but knowing that someone else has been there makes a difference.

Bruce Becker is a local artist here in PA that was in the process of painting an Amish school bell when he heard about the shooting and he chose to use that painting to bring closure to many. He teamed up with a local radio station who found a printer who made up prints for this free of charge to hand out to anyone that wanted one. They had such a response that they had to have more printed up.

Here is a link to the picture of the bell: http://www.bart51.com/datafiles/Bell.JPG