Orlando: Hope and Love Last Longer

For a moment our hearts stopped.

We were out for a brief Sunday drive. My 16 year old was proudly behind the wheel getting in some road time. The local pop station was playing and she was humming a tune. Then we heard the announcement about the Orlando mass shooting. In unison, we both drew in a loud breath as our hands leapt to our mouths.

No. No. No. No. No.

Here we are again. Here we ALL are again. Aurora. Boston. Columbine. Newtown. San Bernardino. Virginia Tech. It’s times like these that we need to take a pause. A pause to not only to register such horrific events and the fragility of life, but to truly appreciate all the good we have in our lives – and the good we can give to others with courage, kindness, gratitude and care through social action. We are part of a larger humanity in which there is much more love than hate. It’s up to us to prove it.

And if we needed anything else to bring us to tears Sunday it was the compassionate sonnet for Orlando delivered by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his acceptance speech for a Tony award for the best original score for the smash musical Hamilton.

Watch the video clip: Lin-Manuel Miranda

“When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day / This show is proof that history remembers / We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger / We rise and fall / and light from dying embers remembrances that hope and love last forever / Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.