Oh my, that's for sure! (Is that why I slept late today?) Way back in 1553, when Michael Servetus was burned at the stake for heresy, theologian Sebastian Castillio wrote, "To kill a man is not to defend a doctrine, it is to kill a man." Wise words. Too bad we haven't learned from them yet.
My daughter, Laura, was an admirer of Charlie Kirk. A long audio text Wednesday evening told me she, and her 20-year-old daughter, were heartbroken. I called and listened. This was prior to the confession by the shooter, who was the same age as Laura's 22-year-old son, Charlie, who had earned his AA degree at UVU, Utah Valley University. Too many congruences. At the conclusion of our phone conversation (I didn't keep time, but it was long) Laura thanked me for having this "dialogue" with her. I'll count that as a good thing. Our conversation ended with messages of love. And me wanting to pull up the covers. Until I read your blog, Sylvia. It is good to have community when grieving.
Oh my, Grace. So many congruences. Too many, as you say. What a gift you offered with your listening ear. I am sure that helped. And it's also good to have covers to dive under. And voices to call us back. Step by step we will move through this.
After reading One Good Thing tonight, I'm struggling with words. " I love you," the most beautiful words, spoken to a loved one or to all of humanity. But, also, terrible words, as they're now spoken in my country, openly and with a frightening cadence. Charlie Kirk should be alive tonight, at home with his wife and children. But in his life, he spoke many, many terrible words.
Our country is exploding right now in words of every kind, every emotion, and every meaning. America is in pain. What are the words that can take us to a place of healing and understanding?
That is exactly the question. I wish I had the answer. I only know violence is not the answer. I also know that things like Facebook have algorithms that serve up words to enrage us, and that doesn't help. It seems to me that social media has developed faster than people can understand how it works to divide us. I have seen that in spades on my FB account this week. So many vehicles for spreading hatred, fear, anger, discord ... what if people learned to coopt them to spread love?
Sylvia, that's totally beautiful. And so uplifting in these devastating times. Hasty
Thank you, Hasty. Devastating times, for sure. We have to find ways to reach our own hearts and those of others, too.
Thank you, dear Sylvia. Today you have helped me grieve, which also means you have helped to make room for love inside me.
Yes, those two things are so intertwined! Thank you.
And stifling someone’s right to speak does not bring seeds of understanding nor lasting solutions.
And the death penalty doesn’t end murder nor violence.
Thanks for writing, especially when it’s easier to just pull the covers up …
Oh my, that's for sure! (Is that why I slept late today?) Way back in 1553, when Michael Servetus was burned at the stake for heresy, theologian Sebastian Castillio wrote, "To kill a man is not to defend a doctrine, it is to kill a man." Wise words. Too bad we haven't learned from them yet.
Thank you, Sylvia, for continuing to shine the light and bring comfort. 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you for your kind words, Sheila. They mean a lot to me!
When I finished your piece, I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Make room in the boat - I will help row.💕Irene
Thank you! I can use all the help I can get!
My daughter, Laura, was an admirer of Charlie Kirk. A long audio text Wednesday evening told me she, and her 20-year-old daughter, were heartbroken. I called and listened. This was prior to the confession by the shooter, who was the same age as Laura's 22-year-old son, Charlie, who had earned his AA degree at UVU, Utah Valley University. Too many congruences. At the conclusion of our phone conversation (I didn't keep time, but it was long) Laura thanked me for having this "dialogue" with her. I'll count that as a good thing. Our conversation ended with messages of love. And me wanting to pull up the covers. Until I read your blog, Sylvia. It is good to have community when grieving.
Oh my, Grace. So many congruences. Too many, as you say. What a gift you offered with your listening ear. I am sure that helped. And it's also good to have covers to dive under. And voices to call us back. Step by step we will move through this.
After reading One Good Thing tonight, I'm struggling with words. " I love you," the most beautiful words, spoken to a loved one or to all of humanity. But, also, terrible words, as they're now spoken in my country, openly and with a frightening cadence. Charlie Kirk should be alive tonight, at home with his wife and children. But in his life, he spoke many, many terrible words.
Our country is exploding right now in words of every kind, every emotion, and every meaning. America is in pain. What are the words that can take us to a place of healing and understanding?
That is exactly the question. I wish I had the answer. I only know violence is not the answer. I also know that things like Facebook have algorithms that serve up words to enrage us, and that doesn't help. It seems to me that social media has developed faster than people can understand how it works to divide us. I have seen that in spades on my FB account this week. So many vehicles for spreading hatred, fear, anger, discord ... what if people learned to coopt them to spread love?