Lament, Love, Learn, Live

For two days now the news has been dominated by Monday’s tragic knife attack during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga workshop for children aged six to eleven in Southport, a seaside town in northwest England. Last night there were the pictures of the three girls who were killed; we were reminded of the eight other children and two adults who were injured.

What is an appropriate response when faced with a tragedy like this? Four thoughts whilst musing this morning:

Lament: Yesterday evening the Southport community turned out together. Large crowds gathered at a vigil, holding a minute’s silence for the victims. There were children who knew the girls, parents who imagined themselves in the places of the victims families, local politicians who felt the pain of their community, many ordinary people sharing the grief, lamenting the tragedy.

Love: I understand that many will be angry, despairing, looking for someone to blame. I looked at the flowers and handwritten notes from mourners piled up near the scene of the attack, I observed many people caring, consoling each other. It seems that the response of the Southport community was an wonderful example of people united by their empathy and compassion.

Learn: All involved learn lessons through such tragic events – police, paramedics, and politicians learn about the community they’re serving; local families learn lessons about living with grief and sadness, life and death; the world looks on and learns from the example of good Southport people. We all learn more about the inestimable value of family members, the fragility of life, our common humanity.

Live: Soon the journalists and TV cameras will leave Southport. Life goes on for bereaved families, children who have lost their friends, injured who are still recovering. Teachers will already be thinking of next term. We’re reminded again to appreciate, and be grateful for, the people we share our lives with, to be content with what we have, to live in the light and not stay in the darkness.