It’s been a tough few days.
Explosions, investigations, arrests. Bloody images. triage, heroes, evacuations, survivors, and casualties.
The stuff of war zones, exponentially more horrific because it played out on our own streets.
If you’re like me, you probably aren’t directly impacted. Unless you live in Boston or West, Texas, the routines of your daily life move forward as though nothing happened. Personally, I feel a little strange about that.
Maybe, like me, you wonder: What can I do?
Most important, we need to keep going.
I feel an urge to sit inside and stare at the TV screen, but that’s probably the worst strategy. The best thing we can do is keep living our lives, moving forward, doing what we do for those around us.
It’s tempting to succumb to fear, or cynicism, or anger. Several times I’ve heard, “Could this happen again?”
That answer, realistically, is YES. Accident or intention, stuff happens, and some of that stuff brings pain. And still we must not give in to fear, because we know we don’t travel alone.
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
Find a way to treat each day as holy ground.
That doesn’t mean quitting your job or moving to a monastery. It does mean doing what you can, where you are, to honor each moment as a gift from God.
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4)
In the Broadway play Rent a songwriter asks a powerful question about how we invest the minutes in a year:
525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes – how do you measure, measure a year?
525,600 minutes – how can you measure the life of a woman or man?
The lyric offers several possible answers but concludes with the ultimate meaning:
Remember the love! Measure in love. Seasons of love!
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Resolve to seek justice.
This one’s tough. Of course we want perpetrators held accountable, but we have to avoid the need for revenge and retribution. As much as we may not feel like it, we need to forgive.
We’re called to renew our commitment to social justice, to feed the hungry and care for the sick.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:17)
In the face of violence, recommit to peace.
These words were spoken by Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley at Thursday’s Interfaith Service in Boston:
“We must overcome the culture of death by promoting a culture of life, a profound respect for each and every human being made in the image and likeness of God, and we must cultivate a desire to give our lives in the service of others.
Like every tragedy, Monday’s events are a challenge and an opportunity for us to work together with a renewed spirit of determination and solidarity and with the firm conviction that love is stronger than death.”
As my friend Jon Swanson said, “Pursuing peace is hard work. It’s not doing nothing. It’s a passionate quest. It’s life-consuming.”
What can I do?
Can’t see the video in your email or reader? Click here.
Please leave a comment here.
Want to receive free updates?
Click below to get Bouncing Back
delivered directly to your inbox.
