After such a long hiatus from writing, I can’t believe I’m starting back by expressing my thoughts on the deadly shootings in a Connecticut school. First, I have intentionally been avoiding any media coverage on the event, which makes me ill-informed of all the details and data relating to these precious lives lost. But it simply had to be this way for me-for my own preservation. As a mom of a seven and eleven year old, I couldn’t go there. Otherwise, I would have spent the weekend in the fetal position and a blubbery mess. But it is likely this way for all of us, whether a parent or not. Murder of innocents will never make sense. There is no way we will ever fathom such atrocities.

To add to the frustration, I have no answers. No profound words of enlightenment will suddenly appear on this page. All I can say is that we must be light in our own little worlds and reflect the light around us. Especially in this Advent season, where we light those beautiful candles that symbolize what we so desperately need right now.

Hope.

Peace.

Joy.

Love.

We simply can’t let the darkness snuff these candle-concepts out. They are life-giving. Essential. And yet in short supply.

Things usually come back around to music for me. The lyrics for “Light Up the Sky” by the Afters popped in my head:

When I’m feeling all alone/With so far to go/The signs are no where on this road/Guiding me home/When the night is closing in/Is falling on my skin/Oh God, will you come close

You light, light, light up the sky/You light up the sky to show me that you are with me/And I, I, I can’t deny/No I can’t deny that you are right here with me/You’ve opened my eyes/So I can see you all around me/You light, light, light up the sky/You light up the sky to show me that you are with me

When stars are hiding in the clouds/I don’t feel them shining/When I can’t see beyond my doubt/The silver lining/When I’ve almost reached the end/Like a flood you’re rushing in/Your love is rushing in (your love is rushing in)

So I’ll run straight to your arms/You’re the bright and morning sun/To show your love there’s nothing you won’t do (nothing you won’t do)

***

What CAN we do? I don’t have concrete answers. But I do trust the words of a man I grew up watching and idolizing–Mr. Rogers:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

I think the helpers are also torch-bearers. Light champions. Beacons for all of us to follow.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

Shine on.

-Sherry

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

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