http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/Archive/News/Stakelbeck_Terror_030612_WS  Evidence thwarts speculation

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/Archive/News/Stakelbeck_Terror_012512_WS  Be informed, be warned, be in prayer

Darkness drops upon early evening, just enough remaining light to make out shapes in the distance.  Street noise winding down as rush hour traffic turns into moments of free time before sleep.  A light rain falling, I slowly roll down the road-side path on my bicycle, bouncing up and down on the uneven pavement.  My thoughts review the day and I recognize a bit of anxiety knowing that I am still far away from home and the coming night will make my travel more difficult.

As I bring my nerves under control I look over my left shoulder at the commuter train, approaching from the southeast.  The snaking metal behemoth sounding its body-shaking horn several times prior to crossing the roadway in its off-perpendicular passage.  Three quarters of the way across the road I am brought to an abrupt halt as a speeding, dump-truck drives full throttle into the side of the train two cars behind the locomotive.  As the explosion and twisted metal ensue I realize that there are no lights on the train and the warning signals for the train crossing are not flashing.  My immediate shocks turns to horror as for the next thirty seconds, seven other vehicles of various size and shape follow the dump truck into the same spot on the side of the train.

I want desperately to run and help but I cannot reach the ghastly scene as each successive vehicle joins the collision.  In the instant I am crippled by inaction, I wonder briefly what the next hour will look like, not even imagining what tomorrow will bring.  My reaction is endemic of a reactive man to calamity.  What would I have done had I been prepared for such horrific conditions?  Of all the feelings that I could possibly experience, this paralysis, fear and helplessness is the worst.  A pain for which there is no ointment but Christ.  A response for which there is no other sensible course of action, but preparation of the mind, body and spirit for any other potential or future episode.  Experiential pain.