About perspective...things to be learned through tragedy

Remarkable, isn't it, how an indescribably tragic disaster resets our various perspectives on our lives and troubles? Just to share a bit....my wife and I spent today doing a bit of browsing through pottery and antique shops, went for lunch, attempted (and failed) to do a single bit of Christmas shopping. We had lots of quiet time, lost in our thoughts about what the parents of the lost children in CT must be going through. There really were no words, but there were some tears. So buying things that family members probably don't really need didn't seem like much of a priority.

And the real bit of perspective we gained....we are struggling with one of our daughters, who is 27, living back at home and struggling with an eating disorder. She is entering another crisis period - we've known it was coming for some time - and have been wandering lost about it for weeks. But then the CT disaster happened - our daughter, struggling, is alive. And with life is hope - though it will be hard work with no certain good outcome for her - meaning for us. But thinking about the troubles of others made our troubles seem just a bit smaller and more manageable.

Life certainly is strange, and the older I get, the less answers I have. Just more questions - about why awful things happen at all - and awful things happen to good people who are undeserving. But it isn't all bad - and it seems, when least expected, truly wonderful things happen as well.

Just a few thoughts to end the day.....peace to you all. And thanks for listening.....