Headlines

For everyone affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy: Prayers from one more grieving stranger . . . such pain - so sudden - no good answer why. Peace to you and yours, however you may find it.

For everyone included above and absolutely everyone else: Please, please, teach your children to be kind to everyone but especially the odd, awkward kids. Shame and rejection breed hatred and empty rage and in some people the aching, festering loneliness explodes one day. Sometimes the explosion carries a gun, sometimes it carries away a whole nation. All murderers (and bloody dictators, for that matter) start out as children. Nobody deserves to die in a massacre but no one should have to suffer a life that would lead to wanting to aimlessly destroy others, either. From what I know of ostracism (which by the grace of God I have survived as a relatively whole and stable person), chances are the young man who caused this tragedy had already died internally years ago from the cruel words and silences of others.

How many of the dark, ugly, heartwrenching, burdensome headlines that parade by us every day and lull us into numbness could be averted by loving (befriending, sticking up for, being gentle with, even just noticing) EVERYONE regardless of their story, their usefulness to us, their popularity, their appearance, their race, economic status, nationality, gender, whatever? Of course we are broken, limited people and we will inadvertantly cause pain no matter how hard we try. But we can try! Be a gift. Be a blessing. Bring light and warmth and joy to those you meet. It will seldom cost you more than perhaps a little pride, and you may never know how desperately somebody needs it.