Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

You may have noticed that much of what I have been writing points the reader to acknowledge the reality of WHAT I am saying.  These things are very practical, but often also philosophical.  This is the type of person that I am and why I am more able to offer real, workable solutions to help people prevail in the aftermath of tragedy.  The Virginia Tech Tragedy hits close to home in that it occurred where I have ministered over ten years.  It also hits very close to home in that it was the catalyst to bring about the personal tragedy that I am still facing.

Ontology is the branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of being or asking the question, “WHAT?”  It is often practically discussed through the catch phrase, “Reality Check.”  For many years I have wanted to have some newspaper or blog entitled “Reality Check.”  I have even talked with many others about a picture I have in mind to represent the need for us to often force our thinking to a “reality check.”  Asking the question, “What?” is a good way to help discipline your mind to get a better perspective on what you are thinking.

People around you are looking for someone who has the answers and someone who is REAL.  This is borne out in your own relationships and manifest through the cynicism or varied responses to hypocrisy in those around you.  This is also demonstrated throughout society.  For example, in the political world voters want to see that their candidate is “real” and candidates often do things to help people see that they are “real.”

Friend, WHAT am I saying?  There is a spiritual reality that corresponds to the physical reality around you.  I suggest you “get in tune” with this spiritual reality.  To begin, check out “The Gospel” tab above or any of the other items or blog articles on this site.  Feel free to comment yourself (you can do so by signing in to your right) or contact me if you have further questions.

Why does Tragedy happen?  Why did a man do what Seung-Hui Cho did on 04/16/07?  It terribly impacted so many!  Why have so many of our young people done similar things in recent years?  Why even did 09/11/01 happen?  Why did the more recent powerful Cyclone move in an unusual and unexpected way to do the damage in Myanmar and kill so many (officially around 78,000 as of today)?  Why do tornadoes even travel the paths that they do, or any storm or wind for that matter?  Why did the earthquake in China happen where it did and cause so much damage and take so many lives (over 40,000 is the latest total)?    What is the answer?:  BECAUSE…

Don’t we often say that?  When a child asks a challenging question, we often say, “just because.”  Sometimes that satisfies the curiosity and sometimes they ask further questions.  When someone asks you why you feel as you do or why you made a certain decision, they often hear “because.”  Sometimes there is more information, sometimes not–you may not even know why.  There are times when we just don’t know why.  Sometimes it may not be best for us to know at the time.

BECAUSE means that there is a reason.  There is a cause.  Every action that happens and every action we take makes a difference, even if we do not realize it immediately.  If you don’t believe me, test it for yourself.   This is reality. You can fight it, but you eventually have to conform, at least to some extent, in order to even live.  There are reasons for everything!  Science helps answer many of the reasons, yet there is SO MUCH we do not know (see Job 38-42 again).

Did you know that the BIBLE has the answers to WHY?  We do not get every specific answer for every specific detail of our lives, yet we do have the answers as to WHY things happen the way they do and WHY GOD even is allowing this world to be where it is now.  I KNOW THE REASONS!  I do not know every reason for every thing that happens; the more I learn, the more I know and the more I realize I do not fully understand.  Yet, there are SO MANY ANSWERS as to WHY?, if we but have eyes to see and ears to hear.  You can understand more; you can understand WHY?  Contact me if you’re curious to more of what I am saying here.  Check out the other blogs and things on this website.  It will help you to TRULY PREVAIL!

It seems as though “Change” is a watchword that is being used extensively today, especially as evidenced through the U.S. political landscape.  Do you need change?  Do I?  There is no question that most of us see the need for change in others, though we are slower to realize the need for change in our own self.  Some even take their ideas for change to extreme action against others or even their self.  Why do you think we have had so many school shootings and even young people taking extreme action against their own lives in recent years?  More recent, and related more closely to my own experience and to this website, why did Seung-Hui Cho take such extreme action on the Virginia Tech Campus?  This was the worst U.S. college massacre in history.  Many speculate; others blame; some get depressed or grow more cynical; and psychologists theorize (there are hundreds of psychological theories).  The answers may be more involved, but the why is not so complex.

If we say, “Yes, I recognize the need for change” then we are acknowledging a problem with the way things are; maybe even with the way we are.  Most recognize that things are not the way they should be.  There are various opinions as to what exactly that should be.  You will either remain part of the problem or become part of the solution.  The choice is yours and reality is what it is.  There is no final escape from reality (though there are many attempts); there is only the coming to acknowledge reality for what it is and changing to conform.

GOD is the ultimate REALITY.  HE is the GREAT “I AM”!  HE has personhood and HE exists.  We accept this by faith, though it is not an unreasonable faith.  HE has allowed an imperfect world by giving human beings choice.  We have failed; but HE has provided the solution.  We need to realize there is a need for change and we need to conform.  GOD’S Word, the Bible explains it all.  History vindicates its truth.  Our experience in reality verifies it.

Friend, you may not see what I do, but please try to THINK with me and see it.  It is TRUTH!  It is the reality you will eventually fully see.  It is what I am writing about here and in the upcoming book.  It is the ONLY WAY to truly prevail through the tragedies of life!  GOD gives us good news to hope for change–not only personally, but also worldwide.  Check out “The Gospel” link above.  Look up the Scriptures I am referencing throughout.  Contact me personally if you have a question (my contact info is below).  This is not my truth, it is reality and we will all change to conform or suffer the consequences.

Do you know what it means to be a true friend?  A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17).  A friend and brother are supposed to be there, especially during adversity.  A true friend will be there for you no matter what, even if they think you are wrong!  Friendship is what Seung-Hui Cho needed.  Who was his friend—his true friend?  He had some acquaintances.  So do we.  How many true friends—bosom friends—do you have?  There is One that any of us can have…if we but will…

JESUS CHRIST is a true friend!  You can know HIS Friendship through faith.  He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24); we should be that type of friend to others.  Are you?  Am I?  HE is!  We should be!  If we hope to prevent more tragedies like the terrible tragedy on 04/16/07 or the personal tragedy that is ongoing in my own life, then we MUST be a true friend to those around us; a good neighbor.  We must KNOW THE TRUE FRIEND, if we hope to have the agape’ love toward others to be a true friend.

If you haven’t taken time to look at the poems that have come from my own tragedy after the VT Tragedy, then I challenge you to take a look and see how they might challenge and encourage you as well.  Only as we put these truths into practice will we be able to truly prevail!  May many more come to see this after the tragedies in their lives!

The wildly popular American Idol show illustrates our tendency toward “idol worship.”  Anything you place over GOD becomes an idol in your life.  With the freedom we have in America, it is easy to put things above GOD.  Freedom also brings out the worst in some people, putting others in danger.  Danger was lurking in the heart of Seung-Hui Cho because he made idols out of his own thoughts.  Danger is lurking in our own hearts if we over-react to what this man did and fall into the trap of making SAFETY an idol.

In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech Tragedy, many good reforms have been made in the mental health system of Virginia and many good things have been done to make our campuses safer.  I believe, however, that an attempt to ensure “safety” (making it an idol) has led to a potentially dangerous change in the law (VA HB 559) that could easily come to limit our freedom of speech and religion.  The Virginia law changes the language for an involuntary commitment from ~imminent threat~ to ~substantial likelihood~ that you are or will be a threat in the near future.  Because of the misguided psychological label I was given (though overturned since), I could easily be a candidate to test the new language of this law, based on what some still fear about me from this label.  This is a legitimate concern I have (afterall, the label and fear from my not following the psychological recommendation led to a second involuntary admission last year too); however, I cannot worry about this.  I will trust GOD for my safety!

When you put your own idea of safety above trusting in GOD for your safety you will limit freedom and worry about things you cannot control.  There are some things we can control, and we should be careful and as safe as possible in all we do; however, there is much outside of our ability to control (If you want to read more about “Control” check out my blog entitled “It is ALL about CONTROL.”).   Could you control the fierce cyclone that recently devastated Myanmar, killing tens of thousands?  Can you control whether a tornado will touch down around you (as many have throughout the US in recent weeks)?  Was anyone able to control the recent earthquake that killed thousands in China?  There are things we can do to protect ourselves from danger, but we dare not fall into the trap of making safety an idol.

You CAN feel safe and secure and have peace in the midst of the storms of life (physically, emotionally, and spiritually)!  Since this peace is uncommon in many people’s experience, some might even say you are crazy for not being more concerned about safety (they have to me).  If you realize the top priority and lesson of all (see my Top Ten and other blogs there), then you can say with the Psalmist (whose life was in jeopardy at that very moment):

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8