The indescribable tragedy in Blacksburg, Virginia on the Virginia Tech campus focuses yet again all of our thoughts and emotions on “why?” and then on “what can or should we do?”

Our traditions and beliefs teach us that since the beginning of time man has struggled with the conflict between good and evil. The Book of Genesis tells of Eve succumbing to the devil’s temptation, and of the first recorded murder in human history – Cain’s vengeful attack on his brother Abel. Ever since then senseless violent death has been part of our existence.

There is no explanation for what happened on the morning of April 16 at Virginia Tech. No words that can make it go away, restore life lost, heal wounds inflicted, or remove emotional scars that will forever be part of a new reality.

Investigations will go on for years, as they did after Columbine. Cho Seung-Hui, apparently the perpetrator of the massacre, will likely become part of our vernacular as did Eric Klebold and Dylan Harris – for the same reason and in the same context. Legislators and the media will overwhelm us with information, who to blame, what should have been done differently, what should be done in the future, and endless “what iffing”.

Hopefully, something productive comes of it.

Ultimately we will fail to adequately reconcile this kind of senseless tragedy, because there is no way for the human mind to explain it, nor rid our world of evil of this nature.

So, we turn to God to find peace, comfort, and hope. Knowing that He reconciles all things unto Himself, and that as much as we are surrounded, even overwhelmed at times with the ugliness of evil, our faith teaches us that Goodness triumphs in the end.

We must be committed to that Goodness – to building up, not tearing down – and not letting evil win.