I don’t believe anyone ever wakes up expecting today to be their last. I surely don’t believe that Alison Parker and Adam Ward expected it either. Terror has once again reared its ugly head at the price of two innocent lives. And this time, for me, it's personal.
Recently, I have tried to begin each day with a question and a quote: “What if this present were the world's last night?” Now I’ve never been an avid reader of nor studied John Donne’s writings, but I have always found this question staggeringly interesting. Just take a moment and really consider it, what if tonight was truly the last night, ever? Would you be afraid? Or would you be relieved? Happy? Baffled? Disappointed? This question has caused me to stop and ponder a few key questions: Am I going to take advantage of all today is giving me? Will I do something today that is worth sharing? Can I use this day as an opportunity to understand someone on a more personal level? If today is all anyone has, why would we waste a single moment on things that don’t hold any weight?
In light of recent events, I have been inclined to consider these questions on an even deeper level. Last week, I was once again reminded of the brevity of life when I read on Twitter that two television news employees had been shot to death on air during a live broadcast, I felt something inside me turn very cold. As I kept reading, I learned that reporter and cameraman, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, were merely conducting an interview about tourism on Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County. Everything was normal. They were just doing their jobs.
Alison and Adam have become symbols of dedication, and their unfortunate fates a beacon proclaiming the transient nature of life. I used to believe that life was cruel because it was short, now I know that it is the things that don’t last that are most precious. Just because something didn’t last, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t any good. Life is so important, and each of ours' is filled with irreplaceable moments. Each day holds hundreds upon thousands upon billions of seemingly insignificant moments, but in truth those moments are not insignificant at all. They are the moments that make up our lives. They are important. Once a moment passes, it never returns. I’ve learned to stop waiting; we haven’t got anytime to. I’ve learned that life is an ever-moving entity and it is up to us to either fall into step with it or watch as it quickly passes by.
Even in the wake of this terrorist’s actions, I choose to stand in unwavering hope. My faith is not diminished, but strengthened, because even in our ugliness, we are still loved by the One who is in control. In that promise, I am very thankful. While it is nearly impossible for humans to exist in a permanent state of being, I have come to find that striving to live in a constant attitude of thankfulness has altered the way I approach not only my responsibilities but also the way I understand people. I have been filled with a newfound curiosity to know and appreciate the things that turn strangers into people. Even in the most common and simplistic instances, we can take the time to more deeply know and value people for being exactly the person they are.
Only hours after hearing the horrific news from Roanoke, I was reminded of the goodness that still exists in the world despite the evil that fights to overwhelm it. This is an absolute: even in the midst of darkness, light endures. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this terrible incident.
