Saturday, July 21, 2012

Don’t Let There be a Hole in the World Tomorrow


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

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