April 16th came and went almost unnoticed here.  I didn't even think about what we were doing last year on that day until I noticed all the maroon and orange everywhere at FW Friends.  It was Virginia Tech Day one of the kids told me.  "Oh yeah," I thought, "I remember."

   I remember fear gripping me even though I knew Matthew was safe.  He had called, he was fine.  Was Ben OK?  Was Janice OK?  Fielding phone calls all day long... "Yes, Matt called, he's alright."  "Thanks for calling, we're fine."  "Love you too, yes, I'll tell Matt."  Preparing for the remembrance service.  Singing On Eagle's Wings.  "You need not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day..."  Yellow tulips.

   I don't think I shared that story in all that happened last year.  I had a dream on the Friday night after the shooting.  I dreamed that I was on the drill field at Tech.  It was cold and dark and utterly absolutely silent.  But on the drill field were thousands of lit candles in those little candle cups.  No one was holding them they were just scattered all over the field.  Then slowly the sky lightened and the sun rose.  The air warmed and started filling with little sounds, like bird song and insects. And when I looked at the field all the candles had turned into thousands of beautiful yellow tulips.  And I knew that "sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

   Now the spring flowers are blooming again.  And everywhere I see yellow tulips.  There might not be a Hokie heaven, like the billboard in Roanoke says, but I know that our Lord reigns in heaven and that He will wipe away our tears.