On the afternoon of the Boston Marathon, I had planned to publish a post about how to qualify for Boston. For me, qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon several years ago was a triumph, a celebration of hard work. I wanted to help others experience that same joy, that same extraordinary experience.
Instead, just as I was preparing the final touches on the post, I heard the news.
Stolen was the triumph.
Unfulfilled was the celebration.
The extraordinary joy of Boston became a violent tragedy in just one moment.
Since the bombings, I’ve struggled with what to write about this tragedy. Like all of you, I was saddened, uncertain, fearful, and angry.
My prayers go to those who were injured or killed. As I watched the nonstop replay of videos of the bombings, I wept as I thought of my family and friends, who had waited on the sidelines for me countless times over the years.
I cried for the Boston runners whose loved ones waited for them on the sidelines, whose loved ones would never be whole again, whose loved ones had lost their lives just waiting to cheer them through the finish. I can’t imagine the horror, the grief they must be experiencing.
While I wasn’t there, I’m grieving with them, with all of you. I’m grieving the loss of life and the massive injuries. I’m grieving the loss of security. I’m grieving the loss of safety. I’m grieving for the loss of innocence forced by this violence.
But, I am not grieving the loss of community.
In the wake of tragedies such as this, we can see clearly the beauty, triumph and extraordinary nature of the human spirit and the community we have built.
So many people have come together, to support and help each other. The evil of this event is NOT greater than the goodness and kindness we give to each other.
We head into immediate danger to help those who need it.
We give blood.
We donate money.
We wear race T’s and ribbons to show our solidarity.
We open our homes to those who need shelter.
We provide emotional support to bolster spirits.
We do all of these things and more. And, no matter what: we continue to run. Terror and fear cannot break our community. We will always run.
