My dad called me on Wednesday night shortly after the I-35W bridge spanning the Mississippi river in Minneapolis, MN collapsed (see some of the pictures), sending people and cars into the river below. Being from MN, having lived in the area of 35W for 4 years, having driven over the bridge countless times, and having friends that still live in the area, I’ve been keenly interested in the story.

At this time, it looks as though there are five confirmed fatalities, and many injuries. It seems so often that after a tragedy like this, people look to God, sometimes for the first time. I’m sure we all know people who started thinking of eternity in light of the events of 9-11. In fact, one of my close friends came to faith as a result of going to church after the attacks.

It also seems, sadly, that in light of such events, some people see God as being very cruel for causing/allowing “innocent” people to die suddenly. One man was quoted as saying, “God can be so cruel sometimes”. Read the CNN article here. For those who don’t see and understand that the great mercies of God that are new each morning (Lam. 3:22-23), it would seem a cruel happening. For those of us who are redeemed, however, occurrences such as these should point us to the mercy and love of the LORD. Each of us is deserving of a wrath poured out thousands of billions of times more fierce than a bridge collapsing, terrorist attacks, or school shootings. Yet the LORD forbears day after day, giving sinners time to repent.

I was particularly touched by this thought while reading a short note that Pastor John Piper wrote shortly after the events (Bethlehem Baptist is within sight of the bridge). I recommend that we all take time to read it and ponder the mercy, love, and forbearance of our God. I also urge everyone to pray for the Minneapolis community. I would guess that there are many people looking to God today, with one attitude or another, for the first time in a long while. Pray that the Spirit would do a work and bring them to repentance by the great kindness of God (Rom. 2:4).