You, Bad Guy, Are Way Outnumbered!

I will start by saying, as so many have before me, that my heart and my prayers go out to the victims of the bombings at the Boston Marathon yesterday. This tragedy that has personally struck many, is another that strikes our whole great nation. It was here at home, at an amazing, exciting, perfectly innocent event, and it shook us all and took us by surprise.

That awful attack, however, did not defeat us. It will not be our decline. You see vicious, terrible bad guy, we are strong people. And we are good people. Sometimes we seem divided through politics, and fears, and different beliefs; but at the heart we are not so different. We are not divided. We love, we care, we protect, and we are one.

You, bad guy, promoter of all things evil, may knock us down. You may scare us and hurt us, but you will not destroy us. Did you see people running away from this ugliness you caused? I didn’t. I saw brave people, strong people running towards the tragedy. Running to aid their fellow Americans, fellow human beings. I saw first responders running in to help victims, then coming back for others, because this is what they do. I saw runners finishing a long 26.2 mile race only to keep running to hospitals nearby to give blood to help their running comrades, their fellow human beings. I saw brave, kind people opening up their homes to strangers that need a place to stay while tending to family members injured.

Of course we mourn the loss of the precious ones you did get to, and we pray for healing for those injured, and we pray for the families whose lives will never be the same. We recognize the sadness and hurt you caused. But in the face of such tragedy we must, in the words of Mr. Rogers,  ”look for the helpers”, because there are always helpers. There are always those that put their own fears aside. They are willing to risk their own well being because someone needs them. Someone can not help themselves, and we, as humans, as Americans, love each other, and will ban together and do this together.

You, bad guy, are way outnumbered here. American alone is a country of more than 315 million people, and this earth has more than 7 billion human beings, the majority of which are good people with good hearts.  You are so insignificant, so miniscule. And you are not big enough to destroy us. In fact, your mean, bullying tactics will serve to make us stronger.  We as individuals are small, but we can impact our small communities, which will in turn impact our cities, states, and our nation.

I will be sad for the victims of your act of terror, and for their families. My heart hurts for the running community who has tragically lost a few of their own. I do not underestimate the healing and prayers it will take to move forward in a different life after loss. But I will and I do encourage my family, my friends, and my community to look for the helpers. To be the good in the world. Be the helpers. Maybe we cannot be in Boston helping these victims, but we can be the good to others facing trials and tragedy near us. We can be strong and join together to fight the bad guys and get through it all with good and love in our hearts. We will use your lessons, you vicious bad guy, to reinforce in ourselves and in our children the gifts of kindness, compassion, and love.

You, Bad Guy, Are Way Outnumbered!