Day 1: But for the Grace of God

On the first day of this blessed month, we all woke up to a tragedy beyond belief. Twelve people dead and dozens wounded in an act of terror that has terrorized our conscience and our country.  I tremor when I think of those children, those mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors, out for an evening of fun.  How many times have we enjoyed family movie night, to return safely home.  But for the grace of God…This senseless violence puts in relief, in too tragic a way, the most fundamental gratitude of all. For life itself.  Our lives are so tenuous, our time here so limited.  What matters most is not the years lived, but the difference made; not just the joys experienced, but the suffering alleviated.  On this first day of Ramadan, I thank God for life itself. For a chance to do, to feel, to love, to serve, to be.  Day 1; Gratitude 1: Life.