Reflections on Arizona Tragedy

christina — Christina Green 9yr old who died in Tucson Arizona. Ironically born on 9/11/01

Sometimes it takes a tragic event for us to evaluate the life that we live. We live in the hustle and bustle of our routine and allow ourselves to let real life drift out of our hands. Life is such a gift, and we forget to appreciate it.

Today in Arizona, a young man is suspected to have shot nineteen people. It became quick news because there were renowned people amongst them. At this time six of those lives have ended. A simple trip to the supermarket, a town hall meeting to talk to a congress woman, a walk down the street to salute a friend were the intentions of some of those attendants to that strip mall who never suspected to be involved in such a tragedy and how their lives would change or end in the blink of an eye.

Nobody knows the day or the hour. We all know when our life began; we don’t know when it will end. What do we want our lives to reflect when we leave this temporal place to our eternal place? I heard someone say, we’re all going to achieve eternal life after this life, but where are we going to spend that eternal life is the individual question that we need to ask ourselves.

An event like this reminds us of so many things. How many other lives have ended or been affected due to hatred, unforgiveness, and rage? As I watch the news, I hear those that we have trusted our safety keep saying how they don’t know what to do. Isn’t that comforting?

giffords — Gabrielle Giffords and husband on her wedding day in 2007

As a nation we keep forgetting that we were one under God, and as the generations have gone by, we’ve tried to remove God from our lives. Has anyone seen the parallel of removing God and his principles and how worse our quality of life has gotten?
I think it’s time for us to remember every day, every moment who we belong to and not get distracted by the wretchedness of this world.

Let’s start by praying for those who perished in Tucson, Arizona and for those who are still struggling for their lives. Let’s keep in prayers for the families affected by this terrible tragedy including the family of the shooter, who is also having a hard day today. Let’s then look at our lives and see what we need to change to make ours a fruitful life and a happier life. Who do we need to reconcile with? Who needs out ear, out attention and our love? ; So that when our day comes…either tomorrow or in fifty years we can hear our Lord Say, “well done, good and faithful servant”.