Not Alone in Our Sadness

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always.

     Gandhi

The news from Connecticut today was devastating, utterly devastating. The violence that was thrust upon so many innocent people, including children, horrifies us to the core. Our hearts break for them and for those who love them. For we know that countless other hearts are breaking too. We have heard from families over the years, who have lost those they love, especially their children, that there is nothing worse. Especially with such senselessness.

Why? It makes us want to scream out. Why would someone do this? What brokenness, hatred, contempt and anger exists inside someone’s heart that would compel them to destroy other’s lives, as well, often, their own.

It fills us with such a deep, deep sense of sadness. Even more so during the holidays. We cannot even begin to imagine the profound grief and pain that so many families and friends are feeling today. We know that grief and pain will not easily, ever, go away.

But we also know that truth and love are stronger – always. We know that comfort and healing can prevail – always.  We know that goodness and hope triumph over evil – always.

That is our prayer today. That the world, especially in this season, will come to see and believe, to know and to experience this certainty – always.

 There are two types of people in the world: those who prefer to be sad among others, and those who prefer to be sad alone.

     Nicole Krauss

Part of the comfort we can experience is that we are not in this sadness alone. The whole world mourns together today. Sadness doesn’t have to last forever.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash