Celebrating People While They Can Still Celebrate with Us
In reality, nothing in this life is certain, but friendship and love can sure help us feel safer, more connected, and more certain about our place in the Universe.
I was shocked, as I’m sure we all were, by the brutal murders in Buffalo, New York. Such blatant disregard for human life and human dignity and to do so so openly as a white supremist rampage has left us all bewildered, afraid, appalled, and asking very difficult questions about the safety of our communities and the state of our county’s ideals and culture.
One reoccurring thought that I have been mulling over since the mass shooting has sprung from the many inspiring and yet heart-breaking stories and pictures of the victims of this unthinkable act. I’d imagine none of them had been featured in national news or newspaper stories before their lives were tragically taken. Which has left me asking myself a very sobering question: why do we only celebrate these amazing people when their lives are over?
Is there any way we can celebrate and notice and cheer for the unsung people that we mingle among day in and day out while we can still enjoy their warm company and influence? Maybe it’s really not humanly possible for us to fully appreciate and recognize people like that until we no longer have them with us. But wouldn’t it be thrilling to hear these people’s stories, to hear about their impacts on their communities, and feel their hopes and celebrate their successes with them they’re they’re still around for us to enjoy and love.
I guess that’s one of life’s challenges: learning how to love and appreciate and celebrate the people in our lives, from the grocery store clerk we recognize in our local market to the people who drive our buses and worship with us, and share public parks with, at the same level of intensity as if today was the last day we’d have the privilege of being with them. In reality, nothing in this life is certain, but friendship and love can sure help us feel safer, more connected, and more certain about our place in the Universe.