“Despicable.”
That’s how one Columbine survivor framed some of the anti-prayer rhetoric coming from politicians and public figures after the horrific shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis.
Evan Todd, who was shot and injured during the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, said many of those speaking ill of thoughts and prayers fail to understand the importance of invocations.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Todd said in response to those decrying thoughts and prayers. “I think [it’s] despicable. I think it’s revealing of the people who are doing it.”
Todd said his own story is evidence of just how powerful prayer can be in the wake of tragedy. He was in the library on April 20, 1999, where most of the carnage took place. Two of his peers killed 12 students and a teacher and eventually turned the guns on themselves.
“I have my own story and my going through Columbine and surviving,” he said. “I just know what prayers — and thoughts and prayers — did in my life. I’ve seen miracles work. I’ve seen prayers from that very day that have been answered.”
Todd said he found immense comfort in the wake of the shooting knowing that so many people were sending thoughts and prayers.
“I could feel that in my soul,” he said. “It was … uplifting, encouraging. … It made me realize that, although I just saw the most evil and saw death …. I stared death in the face, I could still see the humanity and love that was in the world.”
He continued, “And that was really a good piece of the healing process that got me to realize that … life isn’t all bad.”
Beyond that, Todd, over the years, came to another realization: prayer is a selfless action that devotes time to others — something he truly values as he now reflects on it.
“[It’s amazing] that someone would take a time out of their day and appeal to the Creator of the universe on your behalf,” he said. “And, to me, that was so empowering and gave me so much motivation.”
Todd found himself looking for answers in the wake of the shooting, clinging closer to his Christian faith. Today, he often speaks about biblical truth and morality.
Beyond the personal benefits of prayer, the survivor also expressed worries about the message politicians are sending when they make proclamations that seem to undercut thoughts and prayers.
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“The thing that just dawned on me on this last horrific tragedy was these politicians are basically saying … ‘Step aside, God, we’ll handle it … from here.'”
Todd believes this mentality of pushing God away and assuming humans have all the answers is exactly what landed America in crisis in the first place.
“Go through modern times, biblical times, whenever someone starts to rely on their own understandings and their own ways, then evil things and horrible things follow,” he said. “Now, more than ever, is the time to turn to God, and pray, and ask for things.”
Todd posited that some politicians take such problematic stances on prayer in order to push what he believes are political messages. He concluded the conversation with heartfelt gratitude for anyone who turned to God on his behalf after he faced the unthinkable.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who sent thoughts and prayers,” Todd said. “Meant the world.”
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