Lead On, Children, Lead On!

Watching the various news stories in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, I was struck by the contrast between stories about the school security official, who stood for four minutes
outside the building where the shooting was taking place before going inside, and the stories about the Parkland students who have already gone to Tallahassee to meet with legislators to advocate for changes in the gun laws.  In the first instance, paralysis in the face of danger, pain and sorrow, in the second, courage to take action.

I am not here to cast judgment on the school security official.  While there is no question he should have entered the building and taken the necessary risks to protect students, staff and faculty, I can't imagine the fear it must have engendered in him.  He has resigned from his position.  He will have to live with what happened for the rest of his life.  It is not mine to judge.

I am here, though, to not only praise the students, but to stand in awe.  The resolve, the courage, the resilience that they are demonstrating is incredible!  They are acting while so many adults are simply dancing around the core issues.  Will it make a difference that these and so many other students are rallying to the cause and speaking out?  I don't know.  Yet I do know the student participation in the civil rights movement made all the difference.  I do know the student involvement in the anti-war movement during the Viet Nam years made all the difference. 

There is a well known verse from the Bible which speaks of the coming day of peace:  "The wolf shall lie down with the lamb," says the prophet Isaiah, "the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them."  (11:6)  All I can say is, lead on children, lead on!