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A Sin of Omission - a teacher's regret

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Ooops,
I forgot to call on him today.
He didn't raise his hand.
He didn't even make eye contact.
He wasn't prepared.
He didn't care.


So tomorrow I will try.
Tomorrow I will make the effort
to touch his dark soul.
Tomorrow I will find the
magic words that make
his eyes light up with inspiration
and knowledge
and life.



Ooops,
I forgot to pray today
for him.
I was so busy, Lord,
tending to the needs that
call out to me -
the loud kids,
the rude kids,
the kids who provoke
me to care,
the ones I perceive most at risk,
the ones that I need You to touch
so I can teach the rest

and have a stress-free day.



Forgive me Lord for my commission
of omission -
for not reaching him,
for not touching him
with Your love today,
for not praying for him.

 

 

Help me Lord to never commit
this sin of omission again.

 


I can do this only because
You give me strength.

 

 

Lord let not one more be lost to this present darkness.
Send your agents into this great battle.

Save the children -


                         all the children -

 

                                      even the dark and lonely

 

and silent children.



Author notes

What happened at Virginia Tech is worse than the worst nightmare a teacher could have.

It is pure evil.

Only the Lord can stop this evil.

You have permission to inclue this in the poems you send to the parents and family of the fallen.


In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 34 of 34

  • Walking Oxymoron gold member
    February 22

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    Wow.........
    That was strong.

    Such an easy mistake to make in today's busy life...

    Omission, scary yet immense!!
    I hope this kid knows that someone cares for him.

    Being a teacher, I used to want to be, then I realized that It's different these days. You are sued for everything, and the responsibility is incredible. Not enough pay, credit or recognition, and I'd be scared of doing the job wrong or badly....


  • Freed by Mercy silver member
    September 2, 2008

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    Powerful write. What would make a difference in such a person's life? We don't know who, when, where or why terrible events such as this is avoided; if there are times when one person reaching out could have made a difference.

    We only know that when they happen, we ask why?, blame ourselves, parents, society, or just evil in the world. It blows our minds and frightens us to the core to here about such atrocities. I have a son in high school now who will be in college in a couple of years. God forbid anything happen to him!

    Perhaps God through us prevents a lot of potential suicide and homicide and other evils that plague the young. Perhaps we are or can be instruments of His peace. This is my hope.


  • N e a r
    February 22, 2008

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    This is highly eventful... not just the background concept but the whole view. It's just so dark and deep... what runs through a teachers mind, and it really stuns me with how true this poem is... THE MOST CHILLING WRITE I've ever read.
    Just overall WOW.
    Bookmarking....I admire this write, because if only I could write like this... perhaps I could inspire people. This is just awesome.

    M a r l u x i a


  • Nikkisixxx
    October 7, 2007
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    That was an amazing poem. It really puts out there the thoughts of those around the shooters.


  • SoS
    May 25, 2007

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    Excellent. This is probably the only poem in my contest that focuses on forgivness and hope. I really liked how you put it in the mind frame of a teacher, and everyone around Cho and other murderers probably thought, as well, "Oh, I'll do it tomorrow..." And then they regret it. Even though it was not their fault, they feel guilt.

    I liked this poem, a lot. Good luck.


  • SheistheLorax
    May 1, 2007

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    This is an excellent poem. It is unique, and stands out among the many memoirs of the tragedy. The way that the whole poem was like a prayer made it more meaningful, more deep. This was one of the saddest in the contest, simply because you showed the regret so intensely. Thank you so much for entering.


  • Whoochi gold member
    April 30, 2007

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    Congrats on the trophys! Well deserved and almost feel guilty saying good job on such a tragic event, yet it raises our conscience to remember how people we love can be taken away so quickly .....ty for reminding me...I also never want to commit the sin of ommission either!

  • pozo
    April 28, 2007

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    Very sad piece. Congrats on the tropies, they were well deserved This was a good piece with a good message
    Pozo


  • Viyanna Rosemarie silver member
    April 23, 2007
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    congratulations of the gold trophy!!!!


  • One Eunique Pixie
    April 23, 2007
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    This is sad, and a little forceful. I like it! Thanks for sharing. Love and Peace, Charlene.

  • Freed by Mercy silver member
    April 22, 2007
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    Thank you for this powerful poem which speaks volumes! This really is our only hope, that kids with the potential for violence, in fact all kids, are reached with kindness and understanding, that the weak or strange are not laughed at or bullied. It is our responsibility to do whatever we can as adults, parents, teachers, doctors,nurses, clergy, police, etc., all of us to stem the tide, one child at a time, one soul at a time. We must pray for the gift for discernment and the energy to be proactive with all we meet, especially kids, and most especially, our own children and grand children.

  • ocerus
    April 21, 2007

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    If we continue to have a "culture" that does everything within its power to give the strongest voice - and the most air time - to the most hateful amoung us, if we continue to glorify the most violent and racist amoung us who use the word nigger as a battlecry for destruction and indecency, if we continue to show far more blood, guts, and gore on T.V. and in the movies than anything else, and if we continue to treat each other as enemies or posessions, mere sex toys for one another, then we will continue along this path of homicidal self-destruction. - ocerus

  • pruedence
    April 21, 2007

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    Very sad words...well done...but all our cries will not stop the crazy people within this world...I always just imagine all these minds in this world...and it scares me...for if just one gets out of line we all suffer...nice poem, thanks for caring


  • Wally Weasel
    April 21, 2007

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    Maybe you should pray that guns would be outlawed. That might help prevent another similar event. Nothing else will.


  • Trueheartforlife
    April 21, 2007
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    Wow

    This was an amazing and powerful piece. My favorite part was:

    No reaching out for caring hearts
    No understanding thought
    With vengeful deeds he acts upon
    Such tragedy is wrought

    That was so deep and so full of truth. Great job and best of luck inyour writing future.

  • atty-poet
    April 21, 2007

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    "I asked God why did He allow so much bloodshed in our schools. God said to me, 'My child, I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed in the schools.' " I am NOT advocating that we bring back prayer in the public schools, but we have raised an entire generation, perhaps two, that seem to have no moral center. That, at least, has got to change. My children are in parochial school, and it at least comforted me to know that this week, they could actually pray with their fellow students for the these innocent lives so recklessly taken. Let's not forget that plenty of people, teachers included, tried to reach this angry youth, but there is only so much you can do when a person is over 18, and therefore an adult, and not a child. God Bless the Hokies at VT, and God help us all.


  • storiesuntold gold member
    April 21, 2007

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    Well written and so true

    God bless the children and teach all children to not take advantage of those not so blessed. For atention in the right form could prevent the ones left behind to prevent them from distruction. All the schools know and see every day the ones picked on lets put aa stop to it and save lives with kindness


  • grannyeri gold member
    April 21, 2007

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    There will always be those students who turn away, who are loners, who don't care, and it's these that a teacher really has trouble reaching. All the others, who really need help too,, and are willing to ask and get it, take up time, as do those who continually disrupt, and need to be disciplined in some way. School these days is not what it was when I was a student, or even a full time teacher - we cannot be everything to everyone, even through we often wish we could. Good write -


  • BonnieQ silver member
    April 20, 2007

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    The Enemy Seeks our Children

    Being a teacher in a special school for troubled teens, I suspect you see more than anyone should have to see in our children, Sis. This is a wonderful piece filled with your love and concern for the children. Teachers have such an opportunity, unlike any other except their parents, to reach out with love to help the troubled ones to heal.

    Since this relates to the Virginia Tech massacre, you might want to included it in the TSaS broadcast.

    Much love and hugs, SisB♥n


  • Tabitha-Robin
    April 20, 2007

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    This is a wonderful tribute. It is a sad but full of truth poem. Great write. It is like a prayer. Keep penning my friend. Keep up the talent for I see God in you.

    God bless you.

    Tabitha


  • azure85 gold member
    April 19, 2007

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    Welcome to Omission!

    This is a very forthright and truthful poem, many thoughts that might go through a teacher's mind.

    Forgive me Lord for my commission
    of omission -
    for not reaching him,
    for not touching him
    with Your love today,
    for not praying for him.

    You never know where they may be one day.
    Whether they are the victim or the assailant. I have known them all too in my classes. The best thing we can do is pray and try again the next time we enter a classroom.

    Thank you for your entry and good luck in the contest.

    Susie


  • CountryCousin
    April 19, 2007

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    Thank you.

    You wrote this from the POV of a teacher and that is so true about the classroom. I feel that the young man would never be reached because he refused to accept any help or the hand of friendship.


  • Sherry gold member
    April 19, 2007

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    Jo, This was powerful and moving this shows one can only

    be human and yet the guilt sometimes which can follow

    for feeling as though one didn't do enough reaching out or

    caring more. Yet the message of your voice in this is also clearly

    heard about how sometimes even those slient ones are in need

    of a someone to help them pray or be there when they are troubled.

    Emotional piece but surely is written from a heart of compassion

    and concern touching write. Love, Sherry


  • Darkkitty
    April 19, 2007

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    Wow

    Such beauty out of something so tragic... You have open your heart and reached out to touch all those who are crying, in the only way you know how, as I read your poem, I too pray for forgiveness of omission. I pray that this poem reaches out to so many poets and readers that they must share. You have a talant and with that you have used it in the greatest way. Great write, never let the pen drop. And good luck in the contest

    --Darkkitty

    P.s. I love they way you wrote this "Ooops,
    I forgot to pray today
    for him.
    I was so busy, Lord,
    tending to the needs that
    call out to me -
    the loud kids,
    the rude kids,
    the kids who provoke
    me to care,
    the ones I perceive most at risk,
    the ones that I need You to touch
    so I can teach the rest
    and have a stress-free day."

  • hazydreams
    April 19, 2007

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    Very good write. Like you poem alot. Tis is sad for what did happen...But I must amit this poem is not what I had thought it will be... It is better. Good luck in the contest.


  • lyrical-rebel
    April 19, 2007

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    nice!

    wonderful write...!! n how true!
    im glad u wrote about this.. n im equally happy i stopped by... this will really inspire ppl to reach out to those who r branded as loners etc...
    a wonderful mssg n how easily told!
    thanks again for sharin this with us...

    ps: my prayers go out to all the families of those who now dwell amidst our Lord...
    Ruu


  • pattyann4500
    April 19, 2007

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    Joanne, my dear sister, I feel the pain in this piece so much. As a mother, I didn't do what God implored me to do with my third son, so he suffered as much as I did--if not more. I knew he had a problem, and I prayed but not as much as I should have. Perhaps I was asking for the wrong thing.

    What happened at Virginia Tech was evil, and not one can reason with any of it. None of it makes sense. My husband and I are still trying to figure out how he succeeded with his reign of terror with two handguns and not with an entire arsenal of weapons. We're trying to pray for those affected and for understanding. What a horrendous thing to have to live with!

    Your writing is right on! I don't know what touched a young man to have so much pent-up anger and absolute rage in his heart to want to kill another person, and I'm sure even he didn't fully understand. As human beings, how can we do such things and justify them?

    I'm so glad you wrote this. It needed to be said. Hugs, Patricia


  • M0ofi3
    April 19, 2007

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    I appreciate your genuine heart here. Christians who are teachers have their hands tied by so many duties to so many students. How can one be available for them all, especially in light of spiritual needs?

    When I hear of things like what happend at Virginia Tech, I think of this verse:

    "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”--Luke 13:1-5

    What is interesting to note is that this verse talks about both a falling tower and a massacre. I don't believe Jesus was saying, "If you guys don't repent, I'll blast you with judgment." I believe He was saying that since this world is cursed from the fall, or that things will happen like natural disasters or tragedies and massacres, one must consider their eternal destiny. He sought to encourage an attitude of repentance for all, because of where they may spend eternity.

    For the church, we must spread the gospel, because these things will still occur, no matter what we do to prevent it, as through legislation. Why is that this is still happening after gun laws are changed?

    But if believers of Christ are faithful to His will, we will do well. From there, any failure may only from the fact that we are human and not God.

  • Hallic
    April 19, 2007
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    Really touching

    Amazing poem and sooo touching


  • nahomie
    April 19, 2007

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    this really touched me,this got me to think to feel ashame(kinda) on how i treat my teachers-at times.

  • Viyanna Rosemarie silver member
    April 19, 2007

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    i am speechless. my daughter's high school had a shooting last year. it is truly a shame that all of this can be happening. i wish you the best of luck in this contest. viyanna rosemarie

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