Boston Marathon bombing – intramuralist ™

04/16/201404/17/2014

live strong

The images were poignant. Somber and silent, the nation paused on Tuesday to honor the fallen and remember the day. No, April 15th was not cause for revering the IRS’s massive, annual tax collection. It marked the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, a day in which tragedy heartbreakingly took over our TVs, as more than 270 were wounded and 3 persons died… Martin Richard, only 8… Krystle Campbell, 29… and Boston University student Lingzi Lu, age 23. MIT police officer Sean Collier died 3 days later, allegedly also at the hands of the bomber.

Former Boston Mayor Tom Menino, who is currently battling his own serious health issues, stood boldly before Tuesday’s reverent crowd, sharing the following: “Now, I know some of you can’t hear me very well, and it’s not just because of the fancy way I talk. It’s because you lost some of your hearing that day. I want you to hear this solemn promise: when lights dim and cameras go away, know that our support and love for you will never waiver… We will never forget what this day means to you… this place will always be strong…”

Strong. “Boston Strong.”

Then it donned on me… what makes us “strong”? People love that word. They love to speak it, say it, and use it to describe someone they admire. “You are so strong,” we enthusiastically affirm. But I’m struck by what actually makes us “strong.” Note that it typically isn’t an idea, issue, or some polarizing policy approach. No… I get the keen sense that anything that makes us “strong” is not accompanied by any division or derision. Such disharmony does not equate to a strength.

I think of NFL coach Chuck Pagano. Only 3 games into the 2012 season as his first year as head of the Indianapolis Colts, Pagano was forced to take a leave of absence after being diagnosed with a cancer of the blood and bone marrow cells. As the season without him began to evolve, so did the inspirational movement that carried the Colts into the playoffs. As both fans and momentum amassed, they cheered and chanted and repeatedly hash-tagged “CHUCK STRONG!” … “Chuck Strong…”

What made them strong? An idea, issue, or policy approach? No way. In the wake of tragedy, we are once again united — on an issue in which there is no so-called “other side.” Tragedy unites us, as it causes us to recognize and prioritize what is truly most important.

Years ago I read the perplexing but simultaneously peace-giving, divine promise that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Truthfully, that concept is sometimes a little hard for me. It’s challenging to see the good embedded within trials and tragedies that are so grievous and make seemingly so little sense. We would wish those heartaches on no one.

Yet when we witness such a resilient response such as in Boston and Indianapolis, we begin to grasp a glimmer of where some good may actually exist. Without a doubt in those two cities, there is a strength that otherwise the people would have never known.

Yesterday I quietly pulled out my favorite Starbucks Boston mug in which to drink my morning coffee. It tasted good. It felt good, too.

Respectfully…

04/25/201304/25/2013

the enemy among us

Extending the conversation from a wise friend in cyberspace, we were discussing the nation’s response to the tragedy in Boston. We discussed Tuesday’s concept of whether or not we would simply forget the learnings after the “music fades,” so-to-speak, and return to our unfortunate, engrained, far-too-often divisive and defensive standing.

My wise friend made an excellent observation and then asked an even better question…

I am reminded, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand.’ As long as we cannot come to some workable agreements on important issues among ourselves, it seems we leave ourselves vulnerable to destruction.

My question is, without that tangible adversary, can we agree on what the ‘enemy’ to rally against is? Is there a common goal that we can rally around without a tangible face of violence? And even better than a common enemy, is there a unified love to rally for…? Is there a common respect for the sanctity of life…? Or is it ‘every man for himself’? … each out for his own right to his own idea of liberty… her own idea of happiness. Is there a higher standard we can agree upon?

Friends, just as a common enemy united us in Boston — going forward — what is it that propels us? In other words, if a common enemy unites us like nothing else, who is that enemy as we continue forward?

I think we have two authentic, current challenges in this area: we either deny the existence of an enemy — or we identify the enemy as someone who it’s not. Allow me to respectfully share with you who it’s not…

It’s not the Democrats.

It’s not Pres. Obama.

It’s not the Republicans on Capitol Hill.

It’s not those who oppose gay marriage.

It’s not those for or against gun control.

It’s not the NRA, the ACLU, or any passionate, partisan advocacy group.

It’s not the teachers’ union nor Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin nor any other governor.

It’s not the academic elite.

It’s not even the uneducated.

And it’s certainly not any rhetorical 1, 2, or 17%.

No, it’s none of the above. And until we recognize that, as a nation, we may forever be both polarized and paralyzed.

Who is our enemy?

It’s no longer the Soviets. We no longer face a Cold War. But we have to quit insinuating or proclaiming that the enemy is something or someone it is not. Such may serve to net votes and drum up passion, but such is not wise; and such is not a process nor practice dripping of integrity.

In reality, the “enemy” can only be equated with one thing…

That one thing is not partisan…

That one thing is not an opinion…

That one thing is only one thing; it is evil.

The men who blew up the streets of Boston were motivated by evil. Evil is prominent in more ways than we can ever know. Evil is real. Evil is the complete absence of God. Evil is deep. It dwells deep within the heart of far too many. There is, no less, no such thing as any “lesser” of two evils.

That’s hard; it’s hard to specifically quantify. But evil — yes, evil — as we are calling it what it is — is prominent in more ways than we know; we have to be willing to see it and say it, for that is our common enemy. That is the enemy which unites us. And that is what we must combat and God-willing, attempt to extinguish.

Respectfully,

04/18/201304/18/2013

distinction

At times like this when we witness the wounded lives and hearts of those among us, there is no distinction between…

A Bay Stater and an American.

Black and white.

Man and woman.

Democrat and Republican.

Legal and illegal alien.

Red Sox and Yankees fans.

Young and old.

A Harvard and Yale grad.

A feminist and stay-at-home mom.

Conservative and liberal.

A Duke and North Carolina fan.

Cops and robbers.

Cowboys and Indians.

There is no distinction. We are Americans… persons each created equally, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Those rights were tragically infringed upon on Monday.

Yet while there exists no division in the distinction between who we are, there is a distinction in how we behave…

There are those who weep… and those who can’t.

There are those who trust God… and those who won’t.

There are those who shake their fists at Him… and those who quietly mutter “help me understand.”

There are those who want immediate revenge… and those who recognize that prudence is most effective.

There are those who wish to enact legislation to ensure something like this never happens again… and those who acknowledge that no legislation completely curbs the heart of an evil man.

There are those who passionately articulate… and those whose passion is silently spoken through streaming tears.

There are those who speak foolishly in the aftermath… and those who intentionally encourage those around them.

There are those who seek to numb the pain… and those who know that numbing is never effective for the long term.

There are those who ache… and those who walk alongside them.

And there are those for whom we have abundant compassion… and those for whom we find great reason to withhold.

The reality is that over the course of our lifetime, we have each most likely behaved as each of those above. Hence, it may be wise to give a little more mercy and grace to them all.

Respectfully… as a still sober nation…