Hope in the Face of Tragedy

I've been reading daily from an advent book by the name of "The Little Blue Book."  The reading for 12/15 seemed like it was written with the horrific events at Newtown, CT in mind.  Part of the reading says:

"In the face of all that I see as wrong in the world, I have two options.

One option is to see all of these problems as fatal.  The world is doomed to be forever unjust and tragic, so I should simply do my best to get the most I can for myself out of the situation.

  The other option is to see all creation as the recipient of the overwhelming power of God's compassion and transforming love.  When I look at the world this way, I believe that every struggle for peace and justice, however small, ultimately has an effect, and whatever energy I spend to relieve suffering is worth the effort.

Christian faith calls me to choose the second option - to live my life in this world with hope.

Not wishful thinking.  Not pie in the sky.

Hope.  The hope that is the theme of this Advent season...a flesh-and-blood hope that never fades because 'the Word became flesh and dwelled among us.'

This hope isn't pie in the sky because we know the many victims of this and other massacres are gone from this world.  The survivors have memories but no longer the physical presence of those they thought they had more time with.

But each one of us can make a difference in moving our world toward the light.  Do the good, show kindness, spend the extra time with someone in need. Champion better mental health services, life skills education, tighter gun control laws.  Follow your instincts big and small.  In short, stand up to the things or people who reside in darkness.  Choose to be a force for love.  Create love, practice it, share it, spread it - one action and one person at a time.  

Regardless of your religious or political beliefs, it's imperative that those in despair see examples of hatred turned to good, to compassion.  We all have times in life when we are tempted by despair.  We then need to be able to see the light that is alive and well in the midst of suffering.

Namaste