The World is Mourning

If you go to the website of any major news organization today, you’ll see headlines about a coordinated attack on Paris, suicide bombings in Beirut and Baghdad, and a retelling of an April massacre at a Kenyan college, among other stories of devastation. With hundreds dead and even more injured, the impact of these tragedies is immeasurable. I am astounded by the hate that drove the assailants to their destructive actions, and I am not alone in my heartbreak. The world mourns tonight.

But as I try to process the events of this weekend, I find myself torn. In one moment, I am wiping tears from my eyes, deeply overwhelmed by my sorrow and fear. And in the next moment, I want to celebrate all of the good things around me. While there is nothing that can justify or rectify the absolute pain from these past days, I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be thankful for the beautiful things that happened at the same time.

This weekend, my Facebook newsfeed showed pictures of weddings, engagements, new babies, and birthdays. Friends were sworn into the Peace Corps, while others continued their work with Teach for America and other ambitious organizations. My brother qualified for his first collegiate national cross-country race and my grandma hiked the Peruvian Andes. Nations stood in solidarity with France by lighting up their buildings in the colors of liberté, égalité, fraternité. A stranger brought us all together with his rendition of “Imagine” played outside the Bataclan this morning. While the world wept this weekend, the outpouring of love was a beautiful thing.

I recognize that my hopeful idealism may be naïve – maybe fear and anger are the appropriate responses to the unconscionable events of these past few days. Nevertheless, I am so incredibly inspired by the beautiful people who are trying to make the world just a little bit better. So while I mourn the hatred and the lives lost, I also want to express my deep gratitude for those who continue to do good work. The task is not easy, and at times success might feel unattainable. But we have to keep moving forward. Personally, I’m thankful for even the smallest bit of light shining through the darkness.