In The Face of Tragedy

When news of tragedy hits us, it is like a slap in the face: unexpected, painful and dangerously provocative. These emotions no doubt double in size when the tragedy doesn't occur naturally but is perpetrated by someone else. How could a person do this to another human being? What could this young girl or boy have done to deserve such a brutal ending? The more our minds are inundated with questions like these, the more enraged we become when the answers we get don't suffice. Angry thoughts of revenge at this point feel purposeful and often give us a sense of duty to the family and/or the deceased until we come to the sad realization, that no matter the deed, it still doesn't bring back the person we love so dearly.

"So what do we do! How am I supposed to deal and when does this healing process begin if it ever does begin?" echoes the grieving soul. Where and how do we find the words to encourage a mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife, son or daughter etc.who has just been injected with this syringe of agony and helplessness? I don't know. Do we understand what they're going through? Sighs...unfortunately some of us do but most of us don't. And in this regard, I am not ashamed to say that I too; swim in the silent majority.

And so my heart goes out to the family of Crystal St. Omer and all the other families who've ever been wounded by the loss of a loved one by either natural or violent means. If death has taught me anything, it is has taught me that grief isn't its only gift. It also brings unity and wherever there is unity, there is a great measure of strength. So if there is anyone who feels like their strength has been sapped; rest assured that we, your immediate and extended family, are here to lend you some of ours. We offer you our condolences and our prayers but even more importantly, we offer you our word: to keep their memories alive and to fight against violence and crime in our country in all of its various forms. May the Lord grant you peace at this time. [By Valentine Dantes]