Personal thoughts on coping with the tragedy in Boston

An attack on any one of us is truly an attack on us all.  When those attacked are innocents and children, so much greater our anger...so much greater our outrage.

 

Monday night was going to be a time to reflect on the Spartan Race at Citifield on Saturday.  Maybe take some time to respond to a blog from a fellow writer over the weekend.  But just before 3pm on Monday we were stunned and saddened with news of a bombing at the Boston Marathon.

 

So many times now in the last twenty years, America has been rocked by senseless and indiscriminate violence.  Oklahoma City, 9/11, Columbine, Newtown and now the Boston Marathon.  For me personally, there can never be any adequate answers.  All I can ever feel is the heart-wrenching sadness and the helplessness in knowing that this evil exists in the world.  An evil which is forever beyond my ability to comprehend.  At the same time we realize that we are all vulnerable.  That there can be no ultimate security.  And that can be a frightening revelation.

 

Yesterday's victims were, once again, innocent bystanders just trying to take part in an American tradition....the 117th running of the marathon in Boston.  All they wanted to do was share in the accomplishment of family or friends.  To show their support by being there at the finish...a day that should have been a celebration for each and every runner.  Instead, some lost their lives.  Others will never be the same, physically or emotionally.  In fact, none of us will ever really be the same after this. 

 

We have come to understand that terrible things happen in war...but not to people on the street of an American city.  Not until now anyway.  America though, is a strong and resilient nation.  Boston is a strong and resilient city....

 

We will mourn for those we've lost....

 

We will care for those who are injured....

 

We will be stronger on the other side of the pain....

 

We will search for answers....

 

Make no mistake though...we will not be threatened; we will not live in fear; we will not retreat from the freedom our way of life has bestowed upon us, the freedom that Americans have died defending; justice will be served upon those responsible for such a cowardly act!