Keep Your Head Up...

Just got back from my Rochester moving trip. We're going to keep moving by heading out to see the band The Lumineers tonight in Albany... it's a free show, so I hope we manage to get in! 

Still processing the sad news from last Friday's tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I noticed that the media posted a collection of photos of the children who were killed... it really hits you in the stomach, as this story becomes more and more personalized.

In light of this tragedy, I think these lines from The Lumineer's song "Stubborn Love" seem appropriate:

"It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all... the opposite of love's indifference. So pay attention now... I'm standing on your porch screaming out... and I won't leave until you come downstairs...So keep your head up, keep your love... keep your head up, my love..."

http://thelumineers.com

Innocence Lost

I had to take a quick trip back to Western New York today, in order to retrieve some furniture that has been waiting for our new home. I used most of the train ride back to catch up on the tragic story of last week's shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. It was unnerving to read the newspaper, and see the list of victims' names and their ages... some as young as six years old.

We met several kids during our holiday parties yesterday... their spirit and innocence is a joy to behold. I always enjoy trying to entertain and make them laugh, and they in turn definitely inspire me with their enthusiasm and untarnished view of the world.

But how does an adult reconcile the fact that so many young, innocent lives were lost 
last week? What does putting your faith in God mean when he would allow such evil to transpire? I have been questioning a lot this year... struggling to come up with meaning for the way certain events have transpired... we all have challenges, but what justifies something like this happening...?

I won't go any further here tonight into my thoughts on gun control or treatment for mental illness... instead, I prefer to share this NPR story I heard this morning, honoring the life of one of the beautiful children that was taken from us far too soon. At least reading through the article, I get the sense that she too made a difference, no matter how brief her time here was...

...

Last night I met a friend and former colleague out in the Berkshires. She was back in town doing some research at the Museum, and we all celebrated her return, looking forward to hearing about her new life in Dallas, Texas. One of the topics that came up last night was how easy it was to obtain a gun in her new hometown. 

This morning I ran down to the Museum around 10 a.m. to meet with a reporter and give him a tour of the Alex Ross exhibition. It was business as usual... I then did a little holiday shopping in the store, and ran down to the archives to check in with my visiting friend. How quickly the tone of the day changed when I got back to my office... it was here that I first heard the shocking news...

Like the rest of the nation, I can't understand how we have experienced yet another mass shooting. The fact that it included 20 innocent children makes it hit home even more... the senseless killing of innocent people... where does this end? How do we prevent this from happening again?

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Newtown, Connecticut.