Last week, unfortunately, my son\u2019s school ended up being added to the growing list of schools where someone did something stupid.\u00a0 Sorry, I don\u2019t really care for the word \u201cstupid.\u201d\u00a0 Yet with a faint but intentional acknowledgement of the existence of evil on this planet, a bomb threat was communicated to my son\u2019s middle school administrators.\u00a0 While the school system responded admirably indeed, I continue to stand amazed at all the disruption and distress caused by the foolish actions of one person.<\/p>\n
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Thankfully, the threat was nothing more than an empty call for chaos.\u00a0 Most students were diverted before the busses ever arrived; the school was then searched, and no actual explosives ever materialized.\u00a0 School was cancelled, as a separate building was then designated as the pickup point for all affected students.\u00a0 Thank God the threat was nothing more.<\/p>\n
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But as the mind of the Intramuralist often feels as if it\u2019s continuously circling, there was an additional aspect of this process that couldn\u2019t escape my attention.\u00a0 It was actually rather amazing… fairly fascinating… not really disturbing, although perhaps so to some… as I was especially struck by the actions of a few of the parents.<\/p>\n
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As we rushed to the school, understandably, several ran.\u00a0 Several sprinted.\u00a0 We were eager to swoop up our 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders as quickly as possible.\u00a0 When we reached the pickup point, we then had to wait in line, offer proper identification, and one of the teachers would bring us our child.\u00a0 I was fascinated by the frantic few who refused to wait in line.<\/p>\n
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When I arrived, came to a stop, waiting my turn, there was a middle-aged mom who ran up directly behind me.\u00a0 She paused for a mere moment, and then uttered, \u201c@#%&^!!\u00a0 I\u2019m not waiting in any line for my kid!\u201d\u00a0<\/i> She then swiftly maneuvered around me and all others who proceeded her, boldly barging to the front of the line.<\/p>\n
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Many times since I\u2019ve thought of that woman.\u00a0 She had to be<\/i> at the front of the line.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter that the rest of us were each there for our children, that we, too, were facing similar circumstances, nor that we, too, wanted to ensure the safety of our kids.\u00a0 To this mom (and a few frantic more),<\/i> all else was irrelevant.<\/p>\n
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Obviously, her passion was pure.\u00a0 She was passionate about her kid\u2019s safety.\u00a0 But it struck me how her own passion \u2014 which was beautiful and wonderful and yes, for an excellent cause \u2014<\/i> allowed her to be blind<\/i><\/b> to the needs and causes of all others.<\/p>\n
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Was she arrogant, as some have suggested?\u00a0 Maybe, but I don\u2019t think so.\u00a0 I\u2019m not certain we can discern that via such actions.\u00a0 Rather, I think she was blind.<\/p>\n
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How often, friends, do we allow passions \u2014 which are beautiful and wonderful and yes, for an excellent cause \u2014<\/i> to blind us to the needs, wants, emotions, and passions of other people?\u00a0 Is our passion so important that all else pales in comparison? … or should pale?<\/i>\u00a0 Is it ok, even for those good causes, that we deem all else irrelevant or insignificant?<\/p>\n
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Is this not once more, an example of how intelligence and wisdom collide?\u00a0 Where a passionate, excellent cause, even among the intelligent, may blind us to other valid circumstances and concerns?<\/p>\n
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Where are we blind?<\/i><\/p>\n
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Last week, unfortunately, my son\u2019s school ended up being added to the growing list of schools where someone did something stupid.<\/p>\n
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Respectfully,<\/p>\n
AR<\/p>\n
Last week, unfortunately, my son\u2019s school ended up being added to the growing list of schools where someone did something stupid.\u00a0 Sorry, I don\u2019t really care for the word \u201cstupid.\u201d\u00a0 Yet with a faint but intentional acknowledgement of the existence of evil on this planet, a bomb threat was communicated to my son\u2019s middle school … <\/p>\n