"All the world’s religions - so many of them represented here today - start with a simple question: Why are we here? What gives our life meaning? What gives our acts purpose? We know our time on this Earth is fleeting. We know that we will each have our share of pleasure and pain; that even after we chase after some earthly goal, whether it’s wealth or power or fame, or just simple comfort, we will, in some fashion, fall short of what we had hoped. We know that no matter how good our intentions, we will all stumble sometimes, in some way. We will make mistakes, we will experience hardships. And even when we’re trying to do the right thing, we know that much of our time will be spent groping through the darkness, so often unable to discern God’s heavenly plans." President Obama addressing the community of Newtown CT
I am sure we have all been moved in some way or another since this horrible incident occurred on Friday in Newtown CT. Whether it was being on the verge of tears simply thinking of the loss and pain the families must be in or well up with emotion when hearing the acts of courage and heroism on the part of the teachers one can not help but be stirred at our very core. When I read the words that President Obama spoke above I was again moved. I was struck by the clear profound insight that one paragraph had regarding our human existence. How we all ponder the purpose of life. How we all yearn to have meaning. How we so desperately want to make sense of it all. And how we all desire greatness and know that we are not living up to our potential.
How truly sad it is that these questions only come to the foreground of our mind when tragedy strikes. There is so much confusion and frankly, anger in the world because of how little we are focused on these issues. While the President struck a chord with these words his continuation I'm sorry to say fell short. While his purpose was to comfort and the content as it went on certainly aimed at that, it did little justice to the ideas just presented. President Obama went on to say that the only thing we can be sure of in this world is the love we share with each other. While that love is something that we all need and need to focus on to get through this world it is not the only thing there is nor is it the only thing we can be sure of. If that is true then we are left to live with the emptiness of never knowing what life is about, never knowing how to truly achieve greatness.
Let's not allow these precious souls to have perished for nought. Let's not stare at the news and wallow in our shock and sadness until the awareness subsides and think about life only when the next tragedy strikes. Let us get that clarity that we so desire, find the answers to what we are living for and reach for greatness.
I am sure we have all been moved in some way or another since this horrible incident occurred on Friday in Newtown CT. Whether it was being on the verge of tears simply thinking of the loss and pain the families must be in or well up with emotion when hearing the acts of courage and heroism on the part of the teachers one can not help but be stirred at our very core. When I read the words that President Obama spoke above I was again moved. I was struck by the clear profound insight that one paragraph had regarding our human existence. How we all ponder the purpose of life. How we all yearn to have meaning. How we so desperately want to make sense of it all. And how we all desire greatness and know that we are not living up to our potential.
How truly sad it is that these questions only come to the foreground of our mind when tragedy strikes. There is so much confusion and frankly, anger in the world because of how little we are focused on these issues. While the President struck a chord with these words his continuation I'm sorry to say fell short. While his purpose was to comfort and the content as it went on certainly aimed at that, it did little justice to the ideas just presented. President Obama went on to say that the only thing we can be sure of in this world is the love we share with each other. While that love is something that we all need and need to focus on to get through this world it is not the only thing there is nor is it the only thing we can be sure of. If that is true then we are left to live with the emptiness of never knowing what life is about, never knowing how to truly achieve greatness.
Let's not allow these precious souls to have perished for nought. Let's not stare at the news and wallow in our shock and sadness until the awareness subsides and think about life only when the next tragedy strikes. Let us get that clarity that we so desire, find the answers to what we are living for and reach for greatness.
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