Tuesday 16 April 2013

Poor Boston

I feel awful. All those hurt people, and at least three people killed. I feel particularly sad for the man whose 8 year old son rushed to hug him as he approached the finish line and... 

This morning I got a message from Boston Girl, and she and her family are all okay.

That made my day. And compared to the suffering in Boston, all my woes seem pretty small--laughable, even.  I keep thinking about Boston Girl's Facebook photo, which is of her hugging her husband and little baby, and of the two of us--before the husband was met or the baby a glimmer--hanging out, laughing at Talledega Nights until we cried, and of all the little adventures and conversations I wrote about in Seraphic Singles.

What a horrible, cowardly, nasty thing for someone to do: to place bombs--bombs full of ball-bearings--where large crowds of strangers will be gathering to congratulate their loved ones for managing to run 26.5 miles. Such an innocent, happy occasion, and such a tribute to the spirit of self-mastery, a marathon.

But I suppose someone thought his thrill or his cause or his feelings of righteousness or his message was just so much more important than the innocent happiness of ordinary Boston folk. That's what evil looks like: my thrill, my cause, my message is more important than your innocent happiness, than your life, than your loved ones.

Update: Glad I saw this.

5 comments:

Mary E said...

My heart aches for the runners, the victims, their families and everyone involved.

I had the same reaction as you. People were celebrating completing a wonderful accomplishment. In particular, the Boston Marathon is truly a big deal for runners and their families. Besides, the Olympic Trials and other elite races, it's the only marathon in the US that runners have to actually qualify for.

I pray that justice is served and that God brings peace into our hearts.



Nzie said...

Glad Boston Girl's family is all okay. I'm also from the Boston area (although not living there now) and it's really unsettling, but thankfully everyone I know is safe. My brothers go to school three blocks away. It was a day off for Patriots' Day and they and my youngest sisters (ages 13-17) almost went in for the day. I know a couple of close calls - a girl I played with as a kid's 18 year old sister volunteering at the finish line got knocked back in the blast but was uninjured. I hope we get some news soon; they're not telling us anything.

If you watch the video from right after the blast, within 2 minutes they have the barriers down and are getting people triaged and treated. People all over the state opened their homes to runners and visitors in need. I've always loved of my state, but I'm doubly proud in light of the courage, hope and generosity that answered whatever hate was behind the bombs.

okiegrl said...

I'm glad your friends are okay. My sister actually lives on Boylston, though a few blocks away from where the bombing was. She too is safe, although it was rather crazy for her getting home.

RMVB said...

This article might cheer you up a bit. After feeling horror at these ridiculous sociopaths' actions, I always scoff at them - "look at what you did! You made humanity prove itself to be good, great, beautiful."

http://www.businessinsider.com/inspiring-images-from-boston-2013-4

Casey said...

One of my coworkers was running the Boston Marathon with his daughter yesterday. I haven't heard whether they are ok yet, so if you could keep them in your prayers I would really appreciate it.