Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Reflection

This won't be a funny blog. No apologies.

I've been listening to the news of the tragedy in Blacksburg, Virginia. Again and again the question is why? Why would God let something like this happen? Why those people in that close, homey community? Why "My child. . . my husband. . . my friend?"

And the only answer seems to be. . . that you have to find the answer for yourself. And everyone's answer comes from a different realm of comfort and understanding. . . some thing/someplace unique you them and to their faith and understanding of the world.

Me? I've faced some stuff in my life. . . things I never thought I'd have the strength or courage or faith to withstand. But I'm still standing. And so are some of those who were the focus of the heartache and pain. Unnfortunately, not all of them. And my answer is the same today as it was ten years ago.

We don't know why bad things happen to wonderful people. We don't know why evil is allowed to exist in the presence of good. Maybe it has to do with free will and with the ultimate and dispassionate structure of the universe and cause and effect. Maybe it's all test. Maybe it's just random. . . and it's up to us to find meaning in it.

So what can we say to those people who have lost loved ones and whose lives have been irrevocably changed by this hideous act of nihlation. What can we say when tragedy and illness and pain strike much closer home?

The first thing has no words. It's a hug, a presence, a vow to be close by and that we will share the grief. . . we will be in that pain with them. . . and that there still is caring and compassion and LOVE and GOOD in the world. This statement needs to be made again and again. Over and over. And it proves itself.

The second, which comes later, is-- we may not know why this horrible thing happened, but we can make something good come from it. With help we can turn it inside out and MAKE something good come from it. With God's help. With the help of loved ones and friends and family. It will make us stronger, wiser, more loving, more appreciative. . .

But as I said-- that's in the future. For now, all we can do is hug and cry and live and share.

So that's what I'm doing today. I'm in Orlando with my three little grandchildren and my eldest son and his beautiful wife. Today I'm going to hug them a little more often and smile with a bit more wisdom and pain. Life is so short. . . so uncertain. We have to make every moment with those we love count. So today and tomorrow, I'm hugging. And I'm sending prayers of support and good thoughts and whatever mysterious energy surrounds such things to the families of the victims at Blacksburg.

And I urge you to do the same.

Grace and Peace.

Betina

8 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

It's a very scary and uncertain world sometimes.

My heart went out to all the families.

I can't even imagine what it must be like on that campus today.

Unknown said...

I hope everyone will think of one thing they can do to spread kindness today. We can all try to bring more peace and caring into the world. It will not change the tracic events in Virginia, but it will make the world a better place.

Helen Brenna said...

Betina, thanks for bringing this up. I'll add my thoughts and prayers to all the others.

Enjoy those grandbabies.

Christie Ridgway said...

Betina: Great thoughts. I'm beaming positive vibes of "peace and grace" (I love that) eastward.

School tragedies hit very close to home a few years back and the idea of our children being unsafe in a school environment is beyond unsettling.

I'm also going to give my boys a big hug when they come home from school. You'll probably hear their groaning from way across the country, but you're right. We need to share those hugs.

Cindy Gerard said...

Very well said, Betina. As with the rest of you, my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this horrible tragedy.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Right on, Betina. I've been watching and hugging and watching and sending out prayers for the faces I'm seeing on the screen and those I don't see but feel connected to because we're all in this together. I graduated from college the year of Kent State. We felt that we were all part of one big campus, that it had happened to all of us. We were all in the same boat living the same lives. When the shots are fired, they strike randomly. Why me? Why them? The truth is, they are me, and I am them. It's a small world, and we can't avoid the ripples.

My father went to Virginia Tech. It was VPI back then--Virginia Polytechnic. I've been thinking of him, too.

God bless all who mourn today.

Unknown said...

You are a huge inspiration to me, Betina. Thanks for being who you are.

Unknown said...

Thanks, guys for lending your thoughts and prayers to the folks in Blacksburg. I know how hard it is to have to think about topics like this. I promise more chuckles later. . .

And thanks, Lois. Each of us has something to contribute. . .

B.