A Brief Reaction to Newtown, CT

This...this evil...is unfathomable. Children, as pure as the freshly fallen snow...I am certain that this quakes the foundations of all man, as we have been forced to be witness to the iniquity of the wicked and darkened souls.  

But, in these moments, we, as a world, are allowed the brief and rare opportunity to manifest, simultaneously, within each of us the ability to love unconditionally.  That feeling...that lump you have in your chest right now...is proof that you know love for another human being...Children whom you have never met; complete strangers. And right now, at this moment, every person who has seen or heard of these dark acts, is sharing that feeling with you. Regardless of your faith, politics, background, race, sexuality; your love for those children is evident by your feeling of sorrow and your heart is burdened that this kind of evil could exist.

Unfortunately for us, however, this unity is brief and fleeting. And even more unfortunate, is that it takes the destruction of the innocent before we afford ourselves the capacity to see what is truly the way: Love for one another. Over the next few days, the hardened hearts will rear their ugly heads and start the arguments and begin hating each other and the other's ideas about how this could have been prevented and who is to blame and what will be done to stop this in the future. But don't let them fade the knowledge that we all love the same. Hate is conditioned. But love, which we all felt today, is instinctual and natural.

I long with great anticipation the chance to squeeze my children a little tighter than normal. And I can only hope that I can bring more love into their lives every day...