Talking about Sandy Hook

Last updated on: December 16, 2012 at 9:42 pm by Kellie "Red"

Talking about Sandy Hook 2012-12-16T21:42:42-06:00 Kellie "Red"

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

So what happened on Friday in Newton Connecticut is really, really heartbreaking. I tried my typical approach of turning off all news to shield my heart from too much sorrow. Unfortunately, everywhere I turn people are talking about Newton and the tragedy that happened there. I stopped looking at Facebook because I thought I might have an anxiety attack on Friday evening. But then I heard about the massacre at the local food store, from a friend, and again when I went to Church this morning. Our pastor read the name of all 26 innocent victims during his homily. I started to cry and had a hard time stopping. My chest literally hurts for those families and that community. None of us can imagine what they are experiencing. In burying my infant daughter I know only a very small bit of the pain they must feel, and I honestly do not know how those families will keep going.

And selfishly, deep down, I feel something else that I hate. I am afraid. This isn’t the first time that a tragedy like this has happened in our nation. In the very recent past, this sort of violence has erupted in various other locations — at the mall, the movie theatre, and outside of a local supermarket. These incidents are not going away, it seems they are only increasing.

I’ve heard so many people talk about gun control or better treatment of mentally ill individuals as important preventive measures. And I think there needs to be a serious discussion about the role our government should have in helping to keep us safe. One mother wrote an excellent piece today about the need for better help for mentally ill children and adults entitled I am Adam Lanza’s Mother. Please read it. It is important. There isn’t enough help out there for those suffering from mental illness. This needs to change.

But beyond a national conversation about gun control or mental illness, what can be done? One small thing that we can all do in our regular life is put down the devices and start paying attention to those around us.

When we go to the mall to do our Christmas shopping and we are standing in line waiting, there is a strong temptation to make good use of the time and read a blog or text a friend. Don’t do it. Instead, try talking to the person next to you in line. Say a kind word to the cashier. Talk to your neighbors. Learn their names. Get to know your extended family members better. Work to create a world in which people are just a little less isolated from one another. And then take the time to teach your kids to do the same.

We live in a very individualistic world. Social media and smart phones allow us to live much of our life online. We often go through large parts of the day without interacting with real people. Such a society truly isolates those individuals who are hurting or struggling. If we all spent a little less time on our devices and a little more time paying attention to the people we see in our community, the chances of someone noticing that young man who is on the verge of a mental breakdown only increase.

I know we are all very busy. But if you are anything like me, you are rarely too busy to check your e-mail or send a text to a friend. We are never really too busy to notice. We just choose not to.

And so, I’m going to try to do this one small thing in memory of the 26 innocent people who died on Friday. I’m going to try to notice.

Let nothing trouble you
Let nothing frighten you
Everything passes
God never changes
Patience
Obtains all
Whoever has God
Wants for nothing
God alone is enough.

~ St. Teresa of Avila

Politics and Current Events

Previous Post

December 13, 2012

Happy Feast of St. Lucy!

Next Post

December 19, 2012 Christmas is close...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Builders' Favorite Posts Children Education & Homeschool Food and Nutrition Health Home Organization Inside Our Inbox Keeping It Real Liturgical Seasons Marriage Miscellaneous Motherhood and Parenting Nature and the Environment NFP and Fertility Politics and Current Events Pregnancy Recipes Spiritual Life The Catholic Church Thoughts for Thursday Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are named after prophets in the Old Testament?

Select your answer to see how you score.

12 21 17 5