Sometimes working in the news business sucks. I enjoy having a pulse on what’s going on daily across the world and the U.S. However, on a day when tragedy strikes ... there’s nothing worse (at least for me) then watching it unfold. It’s my night off and I was not needed at work to help cover the attack at the Boston Marathon. Do I feel guilty for not being there? Of course. However, I have been there for 9/11, Newtown, Columbine, and the Shoe Bomber. These are just some of the senseless attacks, or attempted attacks, I’ve had to cover of the years.
It’s during these times ... especially ... that we need to remember that we are all human beings. We all have purpose and life on this earth ... and it’s not to kill or injure one another. There are other ways to communicate then through acts of terror.
Nobody has the answer as to how to end this senseless violence ... in our schools, in our businesses ... on our streets. I just know it needs to end.
Incidents like these always make us stop and reflect. I know I’ve blogged about this before in “Footprints in the Sand,” back in 2011. Did I tell those I love, “I love you.” Did I do everything I wanted to do today? Did I do something nice for someone? If I died today would I be happy with how I’d be remembered? Would I even be remembered? I ask those questions after every horrible attack. Why? What happened in Boston can happen anywhere ... at anytime. It happens every day in cities sprinkled across the world, while we are asleep in our beds.
Life changed in an instant for hundreds of people who just wanted to run a marathon or stand on the side and cheer their friends and family on. A marathon ends. A marathon is a race ... a race against time ... a race against others ... to the finish line. This marathon ended in a way that should not have.
Marathon: “Any contest, event, or the like, of great, or greater than normal, length or duration or requiring the exceptional endurance.”- Dictionary.com
Well, this marathon fight against violence and terror needs exceptional endurance. I know that. I pray that that endurance to end terror and violence never stops. My heart aches for those dealing with this tragedy. I give thanks for those who are coming to the aide of those in need. I pray for those angels who are now looking over us. And I hope ...and I pray ... that this marathon of violence ... here and overseas ... can one day end.
While there is (as far as I know) no recorded winner of the Boston Marathon... the winners are those who are helping others in their hour of need. Not only in Boston right now ... at this very minute ... but those that come to the aid of people ... every day ... all around the globe. May God bless you all.
