Holding Our Community Closer

As a nation and as a community, we are shocked and saddened at the events that unfolded last week in Newtown Conn. We are wondering how such an evil act could have happened, why it happened to our children, in our schools. We are grieving with these parents who have lost their children. As a nation, we held our children closer, wondering how to talk with their children about the tragic events. While Barton and I don’t have children, we were just as affected. The events were made closer to me when I found out one of the children whose lives was lost was the daughter of a RMWC alum.

I also found myself in a barrage of information hitting the social media waves. After the Tuscaloosa tornado, social media was used to find those I was trying to see if they were okay, to get help to those who needed it the most, what supplies were needed. But intermixed with the inspirational messages and condolences over this weekend, were points and discussions on gun control, safety in schools, people with mental health illness, people with Autism or learning and developmental disabilities, those with behavioral problems. Even The Autism Society was quick to put out a statement to try to calm some of the stereotypes being made. Our reaction was made immediate.

And I stepped back, where did I fit into this picture, with all of these sides leading to banter back and forth on the Internet waves? Barton and I found ourselves more emotional, sensitive and irritated over the weekend. How much were we picking up on the ripples of emotion that emanated from all of these events, perspectives and arguments?

Certainly hearing such a profound sense of loss takes me back to the unexpected death of my mother, who passed away due to a reaction from a medication now recalled by the FDA. I asked why over and over again with no answers and took those first steps after deep grief and loss.

Friday night, Barton mentioned an article, “They have come for our children,” which talked about harm being done to international children, and how we are all connected, no matter where we are. We also talked about our community, how the impended “doom of 12/21/12” or downfall of our society could be created by those who believe it will happen so much they will create it and take others with them. How do we come through these events with our faith and belief intact?

In one of our communities, the basic foundation of belief is that nothing must be done to harm the children. And last week, we have lost our children in the most tragic of ways. We gather in our churches or spiritual communities, in our social groups and we can come together to support one another.

For our local community of writers, poets and musicians in the Triangle Area:Eban Crawford and Alice Osborn are organizing a benefit Open Mic on Thurs Jan 3rd from 6:30-9pm at Pick A Class in downtown Wake Forest to help the victims of this tragedy. Contact Alice Osborn if you are interested in participating.

This was a poem that was posted on a FB page, and was a great reminder.

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment…
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment…
Before we forever lose
the blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment…
Before the ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent and notice….
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment…
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting.
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

Written by 11 year old Mattie J.T. Stepanek (1990-2004), who lived and struggled with Muscular Dystrophy.

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