I’ve not been blogging much these days. I’ve been busy working, moving, and being a mom. Things have been going well, and while I hope to blog more, it has moved to the back burner in my life right now.
This morning though, as I drove to work and heard the news emerge on the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, the state where we live, my heart sank.
How can you even write about such a senseless loss of innocent life? My boys dream of being firemen and police officers. Is this what they have to look forward to? Are these the kind of calls the future holds for our children? My boys are already growing up in a world where they can’t attend school, travel, or now go to a movie without the threat of being killed. When something this tragic happens, we all ask “Why?” and assume life will return to “normal.” Sadly, it seems our “normal” is being lost to these random, but planned acts of violence.
There are are far too many questions than answers. When I talked to my boys this morning (they are with their dad for a few days), my heart felt lighter. As they talked about their previous day at Water World (a water park) with their cousins, there is comfort in knowing their innocence is not gone-yet. I can’t say- much longer that will last. After the events last night, I’m sad it will probably be sooner than later.
My sympathies to all the families and victims of this horrible shooting. Thanks to all the police, firefighters, first responders, and medical providers. These people are the heroes- the people who put their own lives in danger, going into the unknown to stop the chaos, and to save lives. Finally, thank you to just the regular people, who tried to help their fellow human beings survive and get out of the theater.
As terrible as all of this is, when we try to help each other and do the right thing, despite madness and violence, that defines our humanity- not these acts of violence. Humanity isn’t completely gone from our society. Strangers reaching out and helping one another in horrific circumstances. That is hope- that is our future.
“God puts rainbows in the clouds so that each of us – in the dreariest and most dreaded moments – can see a possibility of hope.” ~Maya Angelou