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It is a church, yes. A school, yes. But it is woven well into the community in ways I don't think the media has been able to describe. And that's fair. They don't live here. I do. Up and down my street, my neighbors send their kids there. Every year the entire community celebrates fall with a grand festival in the parking lot.
Well.
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My sister-in-law heard it happen; she lives a block away. I'm on the other side of the creek and was inside at the time, but my neighbor was outside and heard the shots. When I got the news from sister-in-law, I went outside and heard the great wail of every police car and ambulance in town converging, a choir of shrieks and screams.
I walked to the church twice today, once in the morning, when I got the shots in the video, and once in the evening. In the latter instance the street by the church was full of people out on the sidewalk, kids in a front-yard tree swing, cops at the end of the block to divert traffic. Everyone exchanges nods and makes eye contact. My dog is anxious as we approach 54th, panting, unhappy, and he digs in and does not want to proceed. But we go as far as we can before the yellow tape bars our way. He whines and tugs and wants to go.
It was a beautiful day and a perfect evening, and a shroud of evil drapes over every flower, taints the rushing water of the creek, clouds the eyes of everyone you pass. It is the worst day since 9/11, and like that day, it ends with numbness and fury.
My wife went to a candlelight vigil, thousands packed in a park. She said there was a little girl who walked up and down making sure everyone's candle was lit, and helping people whose candles had gone out find someone who could help relight the flame.
Discussion (19)
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Thank you for this; profound thanks. I simply have no other words just now.
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Re: my commentary VO in the 2024 portion - I record a lot of ordinary daily life. In this instance, coming back from the festival, I was noting how we'd had Easter Egg hunts on this location, and how I should send this video to my daughter to remind her of all the grand times she had at the festival.
She's on the other side of the country now, but was devastated by this event, by seeing the familiar tower of the church on the national news.
One other note. On the way back from my second visit to the site I saw three cops in a small golf-cart-type vehicle pull up to the knot of people on the sidewalk, a block from the church. From what I could overhear they had some extra bottled water and wanted to know if the citizens wanted some. At the end of the block I encountered two cops who were stationed to divert traffic. They were impossibly young, new recruits. I gave them a thumbs-up and thanked them for being here and said it had been a hard day. They agreed and said they appreciated the support. I wonder if they thought yeah, and we have a pretty good idea how you all vote around here, but maybe not.
Hope not.
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Having had some experience myself, I really feel for you being in the middle of one of these nationally reported messes. It's not the same as watching it on TV. Everything from the feeling of helplessness of wanting to do something to fix it and knowing that you can't, to the creeping knowledge that things will never be quite the same.
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Thank you for this. The Magnificat publication had short essays by the mother of one of the children who died at the school in Connecticut. The essays were, of course, focused on faith but also that moment of everything changing and nothing you can do will ever change it back. Throwing yourself completely into G-d's arms because it is beyond your strength, your mind. Most people (apparently not all in this modern age) accept death and know that it will occur and everything will change. This situation is perhaps even more difficult. All has changed but it is the same too. Ok I can't really articulate what I'm thinking. I, for one, will be praying for the children, the parish, the whole community. Eventually even the perpetrator but that may take awhile.
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Not having anything more meaningful to say, I’ll just offer this: Job 19:25.
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