Thirty years ago, a man drunk with hatred sipped a cup of coffee on a journey of destruction. As the sun rose, he decided to bomb the Federal Building at 9:00 instead of 11:00 that morning. He had a book close at hand with characters who started a race war by blowing up  an FBI building with a truck bomb at 9:15. He nodded to them in so many ways.

He claimed to stand against tyrants. He claimed to be a force for liberty.

It was 9:02. The blast was felt 55 miles away. Half of the building collapsed in about seven seconds. Overall, 168 people died – adults and children. Almost 700 were injured. The news showed us the crater, the chaos, the inconsolable grief.

We witnessed weaponized evil. We saw terror unleashed on the innocent.

The blast was 9:02. At 9:03 ambulances, police, and firefighters were already on their way. After 23 minutes, people who worked for the state were there, coordinating efforts with the Red Cross, the Air Force, the National Guard, and more and more and more. Over the days that followed, more than 12,000 people showed up to help with relief and rescue.

We answered harm with healing. We answered desperation with help. We answered fear with love. 

The whole country responded. We grieved together. We sent money and food – gave blood and supplies. We added our voices to each other’s prayers.

Almighty God, it has been thirty years since that tragic day. Such a small number of people planned this attack, but it harmed so many.  Despite these scars, people continue to grasp violence to get what they want. People continue to create scapegoats so they have someone to blame for their problems. People continue to doubt the power of goodness. Speak to our hearts today – confront those with power who will distort anything, no matter how sacred. Give us the courage to be neighbors, to believe what is true, and to be changed in your grace. Amen.

Sources:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing
* https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/documents/mcveigh/mcveigh3.html

Image credit: “Remembering our dead (sorrow) at cemetery on Christmas.” Photo by Pöllö, 2007.