a state of mourning

today, the state of virginia is awash in burgundy and orange. it is hanging on trees, it is flying from cars, it is being worn by the slew of virginia tech alumni, family, and friends, that reside here.

i have considered over the last few days what i would say regarding the recent events, or if i would say anything at all. but i find that some things ought not to be kept silent, even if the words lack eloquence.

in large part, i have stopped watching the news. i find that a daily reminder of the atrocities humans are capable of perpetrating on one another is simply more than i can bear. i have the great blessing and curse of feeling too deeply, and were i to allow myself to get caught up in the wave of evil that exists in the world, i would simply drown.

news of monday's tragedy, however, was inescapable. and so i have read, and i have watched. i find that in times like these, i am oft reminded of a quote by c.s. lewis, from the screwtape letters. the devil speaks, and says:

we have made men proud of most vices, but not of cowardice. whenever we have almost succeeded in doing so, God permits a war or an earthquake or some other calamity, and at once courage becomes so obviously lovely and important even in human eyes that all our work is undone, and there is still at least one vice of which they feel genuine shame. the danger of inducing cowardice in our patients, therefore, is lest we produce real self-knowledge and self-loathing, with consequent repentance and humility.

and therein lies the irony. i find that whether it be a terrorist attack, a tsunami, a sniper, a hurricane, or a disturbed mass murderer, i never have so much hope for humanity as i do in the aftermath of tragedy.

heros are born, families join together, an appreciation for life is remembered. people are kind to one another, selfless and sacrificing. they are respectful and thoughtful. and they express love in their words and actions. the human race is never so wonderful and lovely as they are when coping with disaster.

so, while this week's events seem senseless and heartbreaking, the lives lost will not have been in vain, if we let those deaths remind us to be better than we are.