Insignificant

I have had a few posts started in my mind for the last couple of days. Posts about a week-by-week breakdown of life with an appendage in a cast. Musings on the Christmas season. Humor about things in life around me that tickle my funny bone.

But somehow, with today's events in Connecticut, all of that seems insignificant. Maybe there is something about being in a place that makes you have greater empathy when a tragedy strikes the area. I felt that way when the earthquake struck New Zealand and did damage to this beautiful cathedral.

My heart hurt when I saw this building in the rubble.

Though I have no significant ties to the area, I did spend a morning driving through the beautiful woods of Connecticut just a few weeks ago. And I ache for the children and families and adults and mothers and fathers whose lives were changed today. I mourn for the loss of innocence those kids experienced in a moment. It does not take much effort to search the memory files in my mind to find events that affected me at that age.

I find it miraculous that so many of those kids will get a hug from their mom or dad and cry a few tears, then be ready to go out and play. The resilience of children really is amazing.

Equally tragic is the earlier shootings this week in Oregon. While the death toll was smaller, those numbers are insignificant. Not because it means less to have 2 people killed verses 26. But just because each individual was someone special. Every single life is precious and tragedy isn't necessarily tied to a number or body count.

I hope I never miss a chance to tell someone I love them. To hug them close and let them know they are important to me. Life can change in an instant.