With each tragedy like the bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon today, we are all wounded. We are all victims. We are all stricken with grief. Sad to say, we are becoming—if not used to it, exactly—less shocked.
Of course, local, state and federal authorities will be investigating the circumstances surrounding this attack in effort to bring those responsible to justice. But as so often happens, there will be a more metaphysical questioning. Why did this (or any other) tragedy happen? I think it's safe to say that we live in a broken world populated by broken people. But as some have already pointed out, that doesn't mean that all the world or all its people are broken. In any tragedy, there are always brave and generous people who rush in to help, to meet whatever need they can. And many, many more of us stand with the hurting at least in spirit.
And, please God, spare us from the twisted voices that will try to tell us that this or any other tragedy occurred as the result of the "sins of America" or of those (fill in the blank)s. If God/karma/the universe is in the business of this type of retributive treatment, how utterly heartrending an existence this would be.
No, I believe—I know—that God is not in that business. Sadly, some people are. But there are thankfully many, many more who are in the business of helping, healing, comforting, and securing. Even in the face of such heinous acts, there is hope.
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