It’s a new day in Colorado.
Yesterday was in many ways a crummy day – which is not meant
to be an understatement, but it was one of those handful of days in my mind
where the disquiet in my soul was just something I couldn’t easily find a way
out of. But even a day such as yesterday
where I was jolted into the early morning with the endless media coverage of
the terrible massacre at the movie theater in nearby Aurora in place of the
morning news and weather there were some great things in my life. Dinner with my younger daughter at the
restaurant my oldest was working, and then picking up the older one after what
was her last shift before heading off to college and going for dessert were not
only enjoyable as normal, they were pleasurable diversions from reality.
It’s a new day in Colorado.
But what is that reality?
I have received a number of messages from friends as it appears are many
others who live here in Colorado. I will
no doubt hear all about it from my father later tonight when I call home to
Australia. How can we choose to live
here with all this pointless violence seemingly endlessly going on? Another expat friend of mine (from Europe)
was talking to me yesterday and fielding these same questions from home, to which
he had replied, “it can happen anywhere – even in supposedly safe places like
Norway”. I’m glad in a way it didn’t
cross my mind not to go about the normal sorts of things we do as a family last
night, but I completely understand that for some people, that was not
possible. It did not really occur to me
at all in some ways that what was “normal” had been disturbed until as we were
driving home from dessert and past a theater, there were several police cars parked
outside. Then the reality hits – just as
it did after 9/11 for example – the world is not the same… Certainly not here
in Colorado and probably not in many other places either.
It’s a new day in Colorado.
So what of today… This morning as usual, I was the first up
and pottering about the house. In time,
my girls roused themselves and surprisingly at the appointed time, we left to
grab breakfast at one of our favorite haunts.
Then they set off into town – on their own. I thought about that driving home from the
restaurant – life goes on – life needs to go on. In three weeks my oldest will leave home for
college – life goes on. And yet the
doubts can get to you. Yesterday got to
me. In theory I suppose, my faith should
shield me from that. I’m OK that it does
not completely – I’m also grateful that it helps tremendously. It is odd nonetheless that my oldest has set
off on her own (without her parents – obviously not completely on her own) to
places like South East Asia, Haiti and most recently, the Dominican Republic and
I am completely at peace with that. But the
next time she goes to the midnight premiere of a movie, I will probably have
some discomfort. Life was not always
comfortable before yesterday. Life will
go on…
It’s a new day in Colorado.
Just over a year ago, we as a family, along with some close
friends experienced a riot. We were in
Vancouver – another safe place – trust me – if you’ve never been to Canada –
its safe – they are sooooo nice! I go
there a lot and it’s nice – I take my family and friends – and what do you know
– a hockey game ends badly for the home team and a riot breaks out. OK, it wasn’t just any hockey game, it was
the deciding game 7 of the Stanley cup finals – not convinced – never mind – it
is a big deal in Canada. But the point
of all that is not so much the riot, but the amazing outpouring of sadness
mixed with hope in the city the next day.
There was a spirit in that outpouring that said “this was not us” and I think that is where we are today in
Colorado. I am glad my children saw the response the day after.
It’s a new day in Colorado.
The lives of the families and friends of the 12 people who
have tragically lost their lives are forever altered by the events of last
night. The lives of the families and
friends of over 50 or so others who were wounded, several of whom are in
critical condition are probably in some way, forever altered by the events of
last night. Similarly, the terror for
many others, even if they were physically unharmed, some perhaps who were not
even in the theater will for a long time, maybe even forever, alter their lives. And I suspect that no matter what they have
seen, the responders on the scene and the trauma staff in the hospitals are
affected. One of my few other life
jolting days was the first (and thankfully only) time I was a first responder
at an accident which resulted in a fatality – I can’t begin to imagine what it
is like on a scene like that. I have no
words for these people, no explanations either, but the events that transpired yesterday
in Colorado are not the norm at all. We
will not have boards to write our response to this tragedy on, but I do hope to
attend a gathering somewhere today or tomorrow and along with sharing in the
sorrow of those who have lost so much, stand in solidarity with other in
declaring in one voice, “this is not us”!
It’s a new day in Colorado.
Yesterday in the Denver area alone (based on recent statistical
averages), close to 200 children were born.
It follows that today; another 200 odd followed them into the world, and
tomorrow there will be more. We have a
choice about the world they come into, the world they will grow up in. The title of this blog is from a recent Eagles
song, penned as I understand in response to 9/11 and while the band were
delayed recording an album due to that tragedy.
This song rattled around in my head yesterday – I suppose I was not
unique in that. I hope the web-link
lasts (one never knows with these things on the internet) as Don Henley
actually talks a little about the events leading up to it. But if not, then I’ve included the lyrics
below. Yes – yesterday there was a hole
in the world. Today is a new day – and while
that does not mean something like this will never happen again (although I hope and pray
that it does not), I will move forward in my life, believing that forgiveness
and love has the capacity to overcome fear and evil.
Concerning that, I guess it is oddly coincidental that I shared the
following quotes from acquaintances I’ve connected with over the past year or
so with another friend on Thursday - they remain true today - and perhaps have
a stronger hold on me...
“God does have a way of combating evil. It’s not punishment
and it’s not retaliation, fear or anger. It’s forgiveness. Forgiveness is God’s
way of combating evil” - Nadia Bolz-Weber
“Love doesn't need to win because it is not competing with
hate. It already won at Calvary. We are here to simply let the world know that.”
- Jeremy Ritch
In Vancouver, they now have a museum type exhibit with some of the boards
saved after the shop windows were replaced so people will remember, and perhaps
choose to act better in the future. What
we will remember will largely be in our hearts – but it will be even more
important in choosing how we live tomorrow.
Hole in the World
There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.
They say that anger is just love disappointed.
They say that love is just a state of mind,
But all this fighting over who will be anointed.
Oh how can people be so blind.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.
Oh they tell me there's a place over yonder,
Cool water running through the burning sand,
Until we learn to love one another
We will never reach the promise land.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a Cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.
Don Henley and Glenn Frey
