TERRE HAUTE, Indiana -- June 11, 2001 -- As a pastor of the United Church of God in Terre Haute, Indiana, I have been asked on a few occasions to join prayer vigils for locally held but world-known prisoner Timothy McVeigh who was executed today. I have declined to participate because the publicity surrounding this man is so out of proportion to its importance. The countdown to the execution became a media event with a life of its own. This was to be the first federal execution in over 30 years. The next one scheduled for this prison is less than two weeks away, but most will never learn or care about who the person was or what he did.

Our western Indiana city gained notoriety as the site of the execution of the perpetrator of the worst terrorist crime in U.S. history. Our city will be relieved when this event passes. This issue has spawned endless pages of commentaries including this one.

Today Timothy McVeigh was administered two lethal injections into his leg. He died peacefully, in stark contrast to his crime in which 168 people violently perished in the deafening explosion that destroyed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Terre Haute schools were closed as a precaution against anyone having thoughts of making a terrorist statement. At the federal penitentiary, just a 10-minute drive from where we hold weekly church services, a carnival-like atmosphere existed where various groups were assigned literal camps for their vigil of the impending execution. There were more people camped outside the prison than were incarcerated inside. When the execution was stayed from mid-May, motel owners grumbled about lost business from Indianapolis 500 race-goers because the motel owners gave up that business in order to accommodate media from all over the world that had planned to come for the May execution date.

A few weeks before the execution I drove by the penitentiary and decided to turn around in the main entrance. Very quickly a guard in a flack jacket jumped out in a reactionary manner into the middle of the road. I hadn't witnessed such security consciousness since crossing once from East to West Berlin.

This all began as a tragedy of a misguided mind turning destructive hatred into an attack with no thought of who would be the victims. To his very end, McVeigh was unrepentant. On television the anguish of the families of those killed was played out. While watching one mother describing the loss of her own mother, I, too, broke out in tears as she explained that her daughter knew more about Timothy McVeigh than about Grandma.

What is life worth? What is its value? Our temporary lives on earth are preserved by values and rules given by God. Life is so short to begin with. With demonic destruction like the Oklahoma City bombing one asks, What is life about? What does all this mean?

When seeing the surviving family members talk about lost loved ones -- sometimes with great hatred towards the murderer -- I could not help but wonder how I would do in similar circumstances. Would I be able to forgive? Would I want to witness the execution?

My mind turned to other thoughts about the value of life and to honoring those close to me: my wife, children, family, my congregations and friends. I found myself resolving to value all these while I can. I prayed that I would not have to regret anything about any of my relationships should something happen to them. The desire to reach out in love and live at peace with those I come in contact with became overwhelming. I wanted to reach out and hug my wife and son whom I love. I want to celebrate and show appreciation for LIFE.

I look forward to a world that God offers us in His Word. This is a world in which He will heal all the pain this world groans from. At the resurrection, death, the last enemy, will be destroyed. There is a time coming that will distance the ugliness and horror of this world and indeed will restore and honor life.

In the McVeigh case "an eye for an eye" was delivered, but it did not heal. In God's promised world a healing will take place that will reconcile us to the Power that most humans do not want to access at this time. The Holy Spirit of God will heal, cleanse and give life.

After the parade of events in this saga, I rejoiced in the gospel of Jesus Christ, through whom there is eternal life and healing.