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As We try to make Sense of the Senseless
Apr. 17th, 2007 10:37 amI've talked to several people about the shooting at Virginia Tech. A couple of people I know do have connections to the college. All are in various states of shock about what happened yesterday. I am sure that over the next couple of days we are going to find out more about the shooter and those he shot. We now know the shooter's name, his student status, and his country of origin but not much more beyond that. There is a lot of speculation going on as to what happened but I really don't think we are ever going to really know the whys of this.
When the massacre at Columbine happened back in 1999, my reaction was much different than it was yesterday. I looked at it from the point of view of someone who was dating someone who had teenage daughters. This time I have a child of my own. It is amazing how being a parent can change how you look at things. I can't even comprehend what is happening to those love ones who are being informed that their child/friend/husband/lover perished at the hands of a gunman. My sympathies and prayers are with those affected in this senseless tragedy.
That made what I got in my e-mail seem a lot less tragic really. Yeah, it is a personal set back but I have had a number of those and usually there is some reason for it that doesn't come out until later.
Then later I got some good news in my in-box as well as some great health news over the phone so the day got better. I bowled a 181 in my third game in league helping my team win their match point and giving us the point for high game. So that was nice. One of my team-mates daughters got married on Saturday which was a great thing considering the nice weather they had for the wedding. One day later and it would have been in the middle of the storm.
So nice things are still happening to me and around me and I just need to keep note of them. Which is one of the reasons I continue to end these entries with something I am grateful for. It is a reminder that there is still good out there and things that make me happy.
I am grateful for that which makes me feel better.
When the massacre at Columbine happened back in 1999, my reaction was much different than it was yesterday. I looked at it from the point of view of someone who was dating someone who had teenage daughters. This time I have a child of my own. It is amazing how being a parent can change how you look at things. I can't even comprehend what is happening to those love ones who are being informed that their child/friend/husband/lover perished at the hands of a gunman. My sympathies and prayers are with those affected in this senseless tragedy.
That made what I got in my e-mail seem a lot less tragic really. Yeah, it is a personal set back but I have had a number of those and usually there is some reason for it that doesn't come out until later.
Then later I got some good news in my in-box as well as some great health news over the phone so the day got better. I bowled a 181 in my third game in league helping my team win their match point and giving us the point for high game. So that was nice. One of my team-mates daughters got married on Saturday which was a great thing considering the nice weather they had for the wedding. One day later and it would have been in the middle of the storm.
So nice things are still happening to me and around me and I just need to keep note of them. Which is one of the reasons I continue to end these entries with something I am grateful for. It is a reminder that there is still good out there and things that make me happy.
I am grateful for that which makes me feel better.
