We are well in to the new year now, it is finally sunny in Vancouver — wow, what a wet spell we’ve had!  Good for the reservoirs and the ducks 🙂 — and I finally took the time to read an article in Nation of Change, a progressive journal for positive action.  My son had sent it to me after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in late December last year.  It is entitled 4 Reminders of Human Goodness after Sandy Hook, and I commend it to you.

I teared up several times reading the piece, feeling the emotions —  the grief, the outrage, but also the kindness, compassion — and acknowledging peoples’ heroism, resilience.  I was heartened by the encouraging facts cited in the article about our world today, which include that schools and people all over the world live mostly safely and peacefully, more so than at any time in our history.  In spite of the news, the headlines, the occasional horrors, “it is peace, not war and violence, that characterizes most human lives.”

A final note, to myself, and that I offer to you, is the importance of speaking out for the good in people, of turning toward love and light, of bringing our awareness and attention to all the ways we are kind, caring, compassionate toward each other.

Here’s a moving citation from the article, and brings this point alive.

“Robbie Parker, the father of one of the children who was killed, offered comfort and forgiveness to the family of shooter Adam Lanza, saying ‘I want you to know that our love and support go out to you as well.’  We should all take to heart Parker’s hope that the killings “not turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, to be more compassionate and more humble people.”

And hopefully also, at least at times, we remember to turn this good will and compassion toward ourselves as well!  This transforms us, our souls, and our world.  

Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity.  BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, andgrowth.  Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume.  Follow me on Twitter, let’s be friends on Facebook :-)

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