It was a coincident that Julie Fox’s slot for her rotating Teen View column (opposite this on the Commentary page) came today, just five days after an accident took the lives of two of her classmates at High Point Christian Academy. But Fox clearly describes the pain and the grief that fellow students and faculty at HPCA are sharing just now along with the families and friends of Justin Simmons and Jacob Nance.

As in any tragedy that strikes young lives, there’s a sorrow shared by the entire community. Our thoughts and prayers for the healing touch of God to ease the hurting go out to the families and friends.

And just as in any tragedy that strikes young lives, there’s the question, “Why?” HPCA junior Ethan Moore said students understand “that God has a plan for this. There’s something to learn from this.” Surely, the classmates and friends of Justin and Jacob will find the search for that plan a tough process and come to realize that the “something to learn” will be painful lessons.

But what these young people gain from this hurtful experience will be invaluable as they go forward with their lives, and as they carry the memories of their two friends and classmates with them forever.