Sunday Mourning
Bad news travels so quickly these days, no longer tied to 6:00 PM, it enters our “feeds” 24/7.
Another sick soul wanted to make a splash of, not only blood on the altar, but pixels across our collective screens. So here we are on Sunday, mourning.
Sunday. Mourning.
Mourning is about loss, and collectively we have lost much. One by one our nation has lost virtues that once endeared us, if not to the world, at least to ourselves:
Innocence, faith, hope, charity, honesty, honor…
Today I will join a tremendously saddened nation in mourning a terrible loss. That loss was, for most of us, one of potential. I do not know the eleven souls who have been snipped from our fabric of society and physical existence so forcefully and so irrevocably. I only know what might have been. They might have taught us more than they did. They might have found a cure for the ills of the body, or for society.
They were, in fact, engaged in the act of reconciling their own existence with the Will of our Maker when they were taken from us.
All the catch phrases come pouring into my mind: “Our hearts reach out. Your families are in our prayers. We feel your pain. We feel outraged…” and so on and on it will go.
But I was already in mourning. And, these words, however true, still ring hollow because, at least for me, I remain in need of reconciling what I know should be…
with what is.
As I heard from a friend of a friend, “Today I will hold my tongue until my words are reconciled with my obedience to the Spirit."
On this day, and I hope, on other days, and with effort and faith, even on all days to come, I will practice mindfulness.
Societal change comes slowly if at all. So too with personal change, but personal change is something we can effectively work on.
I was already in mourning. I have already lost so much: people snipped from my life, professional aspirations, pride and feelings of self-worth, the ability to listen and hear without judging or thinking of the next words I wish to say, the good will of many, after leaning too hard, my ability to support myself financially, emotionally, mentally…
But mourning in its truest sense is a time of reflection, and a time for the possibility of growth. Some losses are worth struggling to regain. Some potential, some dreams, must be sacrificed to experience others more worthy of our mindfulness and the will of our Maker.
Today, in the middle of this Sunday mourning, I will honor the souls of eleven fellow citizens of Earth. I will do so by working on what is best within myself. I vow the next words from my mouth will be kind words. I vow they will be thoughtful words. I vow to pray first and then to speak, if and only if Spirit actually desires.
I anticipate, at least on my part, mostly quiet during this Sunday mourning.
Poet
6 年Very good words and thoughts. You are correct in that we can only change ourselves. Only by our example, then, can change come.
Empowerment and Resilience Coach
6 年Ray Rider thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts put into words. You are absolutely hitting the mark with encouraging us as a society to each take responsibility and look inward. We each have the power within to make a meaningful difference in ourselves and those around us. Sometimes it is in silence. Or sometimes in a touch. Your words greatly touched me and I thank you for this.
Foreign Language Teacher at EtonHouse International School
6 年Thank you for your kind and generous words Ray Rider. I think you are right; the best we can do is take a mindful look inside ourselves and embrace our truest, most giving spirit and try our best to spread kindness, love and support to all.