By all accounts, Gary Scharf was a great guy. His ex-wife Kim, called him, "my Dudley-do-right." He recently helped a single mom start her car, then delivered a package of groceries and blankets to her doorstep. That's the kind of guy he was- always helping others. Sadly, Gary Scharf's life ended suddenly in a hail of bullets at the Omaha Westroad's mall, the victim of yet another senseless killing spree by a distraught man.
There is no single explanation for this horrible act. You can attribute it to the killer's broken home life, his use of drugs, his history of mental illness, the easy access to a highly lethal weapon, etc., but I think these murders, like those in Columbine and Virginia Tech, underscore a real problem in this society.
The main tenants of the Judeo-Christian religions revolve around love. When a society turns its back on these immutable tenants in favor of hedonism and narcissism, only bad things can result. I view the shootings in Omaha as a canary in a coal mine with regards to the spiritual health of our country. Right now, I'd say the patient is very ill.
To be honest, I can't understand why God would allow such a terrible thing as these horrible killings, but I guess you can say that about any tragedy. And maybe that's the whole point of faith- to believe in God, believe there's goodness in the world, and to hold on to the idea that
in the end love will prevail over evil.
In the meantime, we should all make a point to say "I love you" to our friends and family, forgive past grievances, and enjoy every day we have on Earth. I hope Gary Scharf's family, as well as the other victim's families, can take refuge in the message of Christmas.
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4 comments:
Gary Scharf is the direct descendant of the American Revolution. So as yet another Gary, Gary Joy.
Gary Scharf is of British and Irish descent. He is a hero and he loves everything blue and his remains were cremated per request.
Gary Eugene Scharf is the distant cousin of actress Juanita Dale Slusher and forced to perform in Smart Alec at gunpoint.
Clarification:
Gary Eugene Scharf is the distant cousin of actress Juanita Dale Slusher and Slusher was forced to perform in Smart Alec at gunpoint.
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