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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Sorrow and Joy Walk Hand in Hand

These words are written in my blog description:
"Sorrow and Joy Walk Hand in Hand.
Heartache and Happiness Dance Side by Side."
(Feels funny quoting myself)

We've been experiencing school shootings lately,
two within three weeks.
One was close to home: 
Then a week later, 
 a shooting at a local high school.

It's tragic,
senseless,
heartbreaking,
evil
and yet it keeps happening 
repeat, 
repeat, 
repeat 
like a broken record.

The sadness is hard to shake
even though 
I do not know any of the people involved.

There's a layer of weighty sorrow 
holding hands with inexplicable joy 
as we anticipate our third daughter's college graduation.

We will encounter a memorial of flowers
as we enter the SPU gym
for commencement.
We won't be able to escape
the death of an innocent 
as we also celebrate the hard work
of my music loving, 
earth saving, 
hippie, 
nature loving, 
minimalist girl.

And we will carry 
pieces of the heartache 
of the victim's families, 
as we soak in the utter happiness 
of awards, 
honors, 
smiling faces,
accolades,  
hugs,
and congratulations.

It'll be in the air,
surreal and yet
real.

This is life.
We must learn to live well in its tension.

Sorrow and joy together.
Heartache and Happiness all at once. 

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