“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” - Iain Thomas
Over the last week, month, year, decade and lifetime, innumerable lives were lost. We can speak their names. We can share their photos. We can see the live video footage of their very last breaths. In times of loss as a nation, we excel in outrage and in prayer. Ironic, isn't it?
For a moment, put your opinions aside. Dissociate yourself from #BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter and #AllLivesMatter. Forget how you feel about the second amendment. Disregard the presidential candidate you support and your political party. Take a step back and instead, just be a human and consider what I'm about to say.
Like each of your neighbors, you have a past. You have memories that you hold right beside your heart to treasure eternally. You've survived a round trip adventure to rock bottom. You have loved and been loved in return. You have a family and friends. You have stories to tell, talents, opinions, wisdom. You make up a solar system all on your own. I wonder, then, what would happen if your solar system was snatched from the galaxy, unannounced. Who would tell your mother? What photo would they feature on the news? What about all the people you've touched, for better or for worse? Would it shake their world? Do you think the nation would pray?
Instead, consider how detrimental the loss of your sister, brother, husband, wife or friend would be. Don't just think, but step into a world where they were taken too quickly, and feel the emotions to the best of your ability. It hurts and it's uncomfortable, but thankfully, you can stop it as easily as you started. This week, children sat down and heard the words, "Daddy isn't coming home." Mothers and fathers felt their hearts burst through skin and bone and shatter on the floor. High school sweethearts' phones fell to the ground. What was lost? What did those men miss out on? What was left unsaid? What were their last words?
Something America has failed to remember in this gut-wrenching time of hurt is that the identity of the murdered has no impact on the value of life lost. Remember rock bottom? Your rock bottom is different from your neighbor's. Have you made mistakes? Does that change the value of your existence? No.
Your life matters. Your story matters, regardless of your color or any single thing that differentiates you from the trillions of others on our planet. When people hurt, they prioritize their pain and see the world through a lens of personal emotion. Remember those hashtags from earlier? Let me tell you a secret: Not a single one is rooted in hate. #_____LivesMatter is rooted in pain. Pain knows no race. It knows no profession. It doesn't judge your character.
As humans, we naturally divide ourselves into groups based on our physical and mental qualities. However, when it comes to death, there is no such thing as different. So when you see a tweet or a post defending a group of people, be it poorly said or hateful, remember that it's likely rooted in pain. Remember that you too have felt hurt, and forgive their effort to fight. Instead of fighting each other over the value of a human life, prioritize life as a whole. Prioritize equality. Prioritize love, justice, unselfishness, kindness, understanding and passion. Forgive the dark parts of the human heart and illuminate the good in the world and in each of us.
Put the lives of others in the place of the lives you care for. Stop blaming movements, politicians and law enforcement. Blame our society for tolerating hatred. Let it end here. Let the list of names stop growing. Love humanity before we lose ours for good.
