A Moment to Think...

I am so sad today as the news covers the tragedy which occurred last Saturday morning in Tucson, AZ. In case you haven't heard, a gunman opened fire on a crowd that was gathered to hear Representative Gabriel Giffords speak. 6 people were killed, including a 9 year old little girl.

Is this what politics has come to? Can the hatred be so strong? So senseless, and the irony is that Giffords, a Democrat, was the target yet a Republican woman and a little girl who probably didn't even know the difference between the parties, were both victims.

Giffords, although shot in the head, miraculously is going to survive the attack, she is stable yet critical as of this morning's press report... I wish I could say the same for politics. And I write this completely bi-partisan, I don't care who you support, or what you stand behind.. we all as a nation should find common ground agreeing that this is not the way to handle dissatisfaction with the government.

I just wanted to write this blog post as a tribute to those who died, especially a little girl named Christina Green, a little girl who had her whole life ahead of her. I'm having a hard time writing this as tears fill my eyes. You see I lived in Tucson, AZ until this past year, and only a few miles from the place where this occurred. My mother, brother and friends are still there, some close enough they heard the sirens on Saturday morning and experienced the chaos. This is too close to home, too close not to recognize how short life can be.

Hug your children, your grandchildren and your other family members. Make every day count. Make every moment count. For those that pray, I hope you will keep all the victims and their families in your prayers, as hard as this is hitting me I can only imagine the grief and distress those involved are feeling. For those that don't, please consider a moment of silence and sending of good thoughts.