Light in the Darkness

On Saturday I came back to a scary world.

I came back to a world in which twelve people are now dead, the victims of a brutal shooting at a midnight movie premiere at a Century 16 in Aurora. Fifty-eight more were seriously injured, and most are still in hospital beds hoping for a full recovery.

I'm not old enough to remember Columbine, and I have very little recollection even of 9/11. This mix of surreality, fear, and tragedy hitting me square in the chest is new. I think it's hitting me so hard mainly because it's so close to home. One of my best friends lives in Aurora, and probably would have gone to the premiere had her brother not been at Kamp. Another friend was in the theatre and came out without a scratch. Looking through my saved movie tickets I discovered that a year and a half ago I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in the now tragedy-marked Theatre 9.

All of us have questions, even those of us who aren't directly affected, who haven't lost loved ones, who aren't on the front lines of the tragedy. Why do things like this happen? What possesses someone to brutally murder innocent people? Why twice so close to home? It's enough to scare anyone.

I told you I came back... but I didn't tell you where I came back from.

I came back from a place where God is honored in all things, where people love Him deeply and try to serve Him with their lives. I came back from in-depth Bible discussions. I came back from honesty, friendship, chivalry, and love. I came back from laughter and tears, joy and compassion. I came back from... well, a river in the desert.

I don't know why twelve people met eternity Friday morning. I don't know why it's so close to home. But if there's anything I do know, it's that there is hope, and the world is going to see the need for it a little more today than it did a week ago.

And maybe, just maybe, I'm in the perfect position to show someone that hope.

"Behold, I will do something new, 
Now it will spring forth; 
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, 
Rivers in the desert." -Isaiah 43:19

If This Isn't Nice...

Those of you who know me well know that I'm a little bit of a quote fiend. I actually have a literal list of my favorites, and it's about a mile long. Being a writer, I guess I'm always searching for the right words, and quotes are proof that it's possible to find them, that someone was able to write or say something breathtaking and inspiring that lived beyond themselves.


I came across this one the other day, and it's been on my mind ever since:


"I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" -Kurt Vonnegut


Even though I like quotes, they don't usually stick in my head for as long as this one has, but I'm thankful this one has stayed. In the last week I have more deeply appreciated several small joys that I wouldn't normally have thought too much about: hugs from my best friends after being gone a long time, conversations that require no effort to keep going, lying in bed and realizing I don't have to get up yet, having time to read a good book. And as it turns out, happiness that's acknowledged becomes even better.


I guess all I'm trying to say is if you revel in your happiness when it comes, your life feels so much happier, even though it's probably about the same as it's always been. Enjoy your life, because if this isn't nice, I don't know what is.

Eight Birthday Beatles a Week

So as not to mess up the mood of the next post, I am doing two posts in one day to accommodate Eight Days a Week. I know I'm behind, but it's Ringo's birthday! So have a Ringo song.

Happy birthday, Mr. Starr.