Tragedy: How do we respond?

Over the last week, the nation has mourned and grieved over the senseless loss of innocents at Sandy Hook.  We've all responded to the grief in differing ways, I imagine.

Upon hearing the news, work seemed insignificant to me.  I wanted to embrace my loved ones and not let go (until both my kids squirmed out of my grasp with that, "What's gotten into you look" they've perfected).  For those whom I couldn't embrace, I wanted to make sure they knew that I love them.  Try as we might, we cannot always prevent or avoid tragedies.  Should this be my last day, I want no love left unexpressed.

Many people began espousing their positions over gun control.  I took that as our human tendency to assign blame or seek ways in which this could have been prevented.  My first response was to question whether it was too soon, and our emotions too raw, to have such a debate.  But I realized that, for some, this satisfied their need to grieve.  Grief, for many of us, involves the question of why and what could have been done.

As for me and my family, we pray.  Some have scoffed at this response and questioned its efficacy.  They miss the point.  The measure of successful prayer is the prayer itself.  We pray not so that we'll see specific results, though specific results have happened.  We pray for the necessary assurance and reminder that God is in control.  During tragedies, loved ones grieve together and draw closer.  That is God's desire for His children.  As we pray for peace and comfort for the families who've been devastated, we don't need to know that their hearts have been touched to measure the success of prayer.  The very act of prayer is success in itself for we've turned to our loving God for comfort.

For those who don't believe in prayer, then I agree that, for you, prayer is fruitless.  However, if you're at all interested, I'd by happy to share my thoughts (shocking, I know!).