How heavy my heart has felt lately, especially since learning of the tragedy in Las Vegas. It feels as if, in recent weeks, we’ve been watching our world crumble due to natural disasters, political conflict, and now, senseless mass murder.

Hearing of the shootings instantly brought back so many of the intense emotions I experienced while living on campus during the tragedy at Virginia Tech in 2007. Shock. Fear. Incredulity. Sadness. Anger. Grief. Knowing that some of our own peers would never come to class again, and yet watching in awe as the rest of the world just seemed to keep on moving. How could everyone continue with their everyday lives, when so much had changed for so many others?

To the media, who swarmed and practically pounced on anyone who would give them so much as a glance, we were a news story; to our community, this was real life.

I want our nation’s citizens to get behind each other and stand up for what needs to be done. The Las Vegas shootings should not become just another news story that everyone cries about for a few days and then forgets, like so many others before this. Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons were hurt or didn’t come home to their families that night. We need to take a stance and try to prevent anything like this from happening again. This isn’t about political affiliation, this is about keeping our families safe.

From the instant I became a parent, I had this deep, burning need to protect my children. I had to safeguard them from hunger, cold, sadness, and of course, danger. My heart breaks to think that I can’t possibly shield them from all the perils of this world, but I can at least try to give them hope for the future. I cannot control the actions of others, but I can make our home a haven for peace and love.

In a moment of spontaneity yesterday afternoon, as I was feeling the gravity of all the world’s turmoil, these two little girls snuggled up to me and fell asleep. I lay there, listening to them breathe, and soaking in all the peace and calmness of our afternoon together. There is still so much goodness in this world, and so much to be grateful for. We can be a light to others by serving, starting in our own homes. We can share goodness and help outshine the darkness.

We can’t stop loving, living, hoping, and trying for change, because that’s when we let the bad guys win.A couple of conference talks I’ve found comfort in can be found here and here.