When I woke up this morning it was cold, wet, and dreary. I felt a surge of sadness envelop me; a solemn morning for our nation’s collective memory.
Do you remember where you were when you heard that two young boys were on a killing spree at their high school in Columbine, Colorado?
I do.
I bet that when you read the word ‘Columbine’ it triggered all of those memories of April 20, 1999. Somehow we have embedded memories like this into our unconsciousness complete with sounds, smells, and sights; ready to replay on cue.
I was 7 months pregnant with my first baby. I was young and full of hope about entering a new chapter of my life… BUT, I remember thinking, “Oh what have we done bringing another child into this violent, disconnected world?!?!”
For one day my life paused.
I remember grieving for the loss of those 12 victims and their teacher, but I also grieved for Dylan and Eric, for their families, for our nation. It was this first mass school killing and the nation watched paralyzed in disbelief.
We wondered why.
We cried out how.
We craved answers!
I really doubt that we will ever be able to obtain those answers. Of course, people will try—recently 3 books were released based on 3 separate theories about what happened that day. Certainly, these authors can only speculate something I am not even going to attempt.
To me, it doesn’t matter what snapped within those young boys, it doesn’t matter who was leading who, it doesn’t matter if there were clicks, bad parenting, missed clues, bombs… none of this seems relevant in this day of solemn remembrance.
The questions should be personal not distant. What have you learned?
Violence is prevalent among our youth, there does not seem to be a sense of remorse, human life seems less revered. .. What can you do?
How will this motivate you into being a better parent, sibling, teacher, counselor, community leader, president?
What can you do today, in this moment, with your child, niece, nephew, neighbor, student?
What role can you take in your community, in your schools, at your churches?
It is time for us to turn the page and face a new chapter in our lives. What difference will you make?
I do.
I bet that when you read the word ‘Columbine’ it triggered all of those memories of April 20, 1999. Somehow we have embedded memories like this into our unconsciousness complete with sounds, smells, and sights; ready to replay on cue.
I was 7 months pregnant with my first baby. I was young and full of hope about entering a new chapter of my life… BUT, I remember thinking, “Oh what have we done bringing another child into this violent, disconnected world?!?!”
For one day my life paused.
I remember grieving for the loss of those 12 victims and their teacher, but I also grieved for Dylan and Eric, for their families, for our nation. It was this first mass school killing and the nation watched paralyzed in disbelief.
We wondered why.
We cried out how.
We craved answers!
I really doubt that we will ever be able to obtain those answers. Of course, people will try—recently 3 books were released based on 3 separate theories about what happened that day. Certainly, these authors can only speculate something I am not even going to attempt.
To me, it doesn’t matter what snapped within those young boys, it doesn’t matter who was leading who, it doesn’t matter if there were clicks, bad parenting, missed clues, bombs… none of this seems relevant in this day of solemn remembrance.
The questions should be personal not distant. What have you learned?
Violence is prevalent among our youth, there does not seem to be a sense of remorse, human life seems less revered. .. What can you do?
How will this motivate you into being a better parent, sibling, teacher, counselor, community leader, president?
What can you do today, in this moment, with your child, niece, nephew, neighbor, student?
What role can you take in your community, in your schools, at your churches?
It is time for us to turn the page and face a new chapter in our lives. What difference will you make?
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