Thank you guys so much for talking about my book yesterday on Facebook. It went from having a book rank of #75,000 on Amazon to the #1,522. I could not have done that without you. Keep talking about it!! I would love to see it go under the #1,000 mark.
With that being said, it seems wrong to write about anything today other than the Boston Marathon bombings. My head is full of questions of who and why. My heart is full of sorrow for the those who were injured from the blast and those still looking for loved ones. I’m sad for the Newtown parents who were there to remember their children only to be thrown into another traumatic experience. This is not how they wanted to honor their children’s lives. It is not how the city of Boston wanted to honor them.
I wonder about the perpetrator who felt his (for lack of a better pronoun) message could only get across by spewing violence on multitudes of strangers. About his anger and hurt that led him to hurt countless others. What kind of mind decides this is the only way?
I stand in awe at the selfless acts of the first responders and the bystanders who instead of running from the scene, ran toward it. Ran toward the hurting, broken, and fallen. I think of the private citizens who held other’s hands, put pressure on gaping wounds, and became a life-line to those so desperately in need of one. Of others who walked around giving drinks to runners who would’ve found respite at the finish line, but instead found chaos. Of those who opened their homes to strangers to give them a place to shower and rest. Of the many who ran (literally) to the hospital to give blood to the injured. So many, that they were turned away when the blood bank was full.
This is a city resilient in the face of tragedy. There was no talk of are you Republican, Democrat or Libertarian? No asking of are you a Christian, Jew, Muslim or Agnostic? Are you black, white, male or female? This was a display of unity that harkens back to 9/11. A sense of unity that many wish would remain after the tragedy is gone.
So, Boston, our hearts and prayers are with you today as you face the unknown. We pray for the many who came to the city full of hope and excitement for the race before them and leave in utter shock and disbelief. I pray that you would find peace beyond understanding in your time of grief.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
Comments (2)
Thank you for this beautiful and heartfelt post. I live in Massachusetts, and I can tell you that somber and defeated faces surround me. Although I was not directly affected by this tragedy, it was way too close to home. Patriot’s Day/Marathon Monday is a HUGE deal around here. There was also a Red Sox game happening about a mile away from the marathon’s finish line. A friend of mine was at the game, which ended about a half hour before the bombing. Subways and streets were shut down. They walked for 3 miles in the midst of chaos before figuring out the walking route to where they had parked their car (at a major T station), about 6 miles away. They had taken the subway into the city, but that was not an option for their return trip. Police officers warned them to steer clear of trash cans for fear of more bombs. Local businesses closed and locked their doors. There was no place to get a drink or use the restroom. She said words cannot justify her experience or desribe the beloved city of Boston. Thankfully, she and her group finally made it home safely. So many others were not so lucky.
I am thankful that my children are still young enough that I don’t need to discuss this with them, they have no idea that it happened. But I’m not naive…this world is getting more and more scary…a day will come when I need to face the sweet faces of my boys and try to explain a tragedy like this to them.
You said all of this so well Leighann! Thanks for posting…and I add a big AMEN!
My heart is saddened, and it goes out to all who went through this terrible tragedy.
Love, Linda