HUNTSVILLE, AL—
The Madison County community is still enduring grief from the unimaginable: two school shootings in two weeks that killed four people who were loved and admired. Some of the people affected most deeply, the victims' family members, are turning to faith in their time of need.From a church mime act to chanting rituals, religious paths to healing are diverse.
"Even in the deepest tragedies, there's always something still there. The love of God, people, community," Interfaith Mission Service Reverend Frank Broyles said.
A UAHuntsville memorial service that honored the lives of Doctors Adriel Johnson, Gopi Podila and Maria Ragland Davis recognized their different faiths. It included a Hindu chant for Podila and a reciting of "The Lord Is My Shepherd" for Davis and Johnson.
"Religious communities of whatever kind have rituals. And, when I say rituals, I don't mean just rituals you run through. I mean deep rituals that help people to deal with tragedy," Broyles said.
Broyles is helping people deal with tragedy now at UAHuntsville, where he's organized pastors as counselors.
Laj Utreja attends the Hindu Cultural Center of North Alabama, where Podila practiced his faith. Utreja said family and close friends visited the Podila home for death rituals.
"These are prayers of peace, plus there is a mantra which is called the highest mantra," Utreja said.
He explained that mantra is chanted for the eldest son, to make sure he leads the family in meditation on good deeds.
"There are some folks, when they depart, the community misses them," Utreja said. "Their work comes to a standstill."
On Sunday, Dr. Adriel Johnson's sister spoke at First Missionary Baptist Church. She said his death helped her realize how many lives Johnson had changed.
Frank Broyles said people turn to God in times of tragedy because they're looking for the bottom line.
"They really want to know, what's really going on here. Why did this happen? What can I do about the reality once it sinks in?" Broyles asked.
Todd Brown, a Discovery Middle School student, had a Seventh Day Adventist funeral at Oakwood University. During the service, mimes performed and people sung as pallbearers carried his casket from the sanctuary.
Broyles said whatever faith a person turns to in tragedy, it can transform them.
"Suddenly the hope that they thought was gone is not gone, and they are loved, and there is the possibility that out of this can come new life and hope," Broyles said.
That's something people of every faith are hoping for in Madison County.
