Why do people do bad things?

This is the question I asked Jason last night as we were laying in bed trying to comprehend the explosions at the Boston Marathon.  As with all the tragedies in recent years, there is no answer to this question which makes it so difficult to wrap my head around these events and only leaves me with more questions. 

I was reading a book yesterday afternoon while Peyton napped and the tv was on in the background.  My ears perked up when the newscaster mentioned the Boston Marathon and that there were two explosions near the finish line.  There weren't many details at the time, but it was clear that it was bad and many people were injured.  I can't shake the image of the mass amount of blood on the sidewalk that was shown over and over on the tv.  I immediately texted Jason.  His company, New Balance, is headquartered in Boston.  Being an althletic shoe/apparel company they have a big presence at the Boston Marathon in both athletes and workers.  Luckily all of them were accounted for and safe.  Today Jason and his co-workers face the difficult task of dealing with this tragedy.  Jason manages the New Balance website which yesterday showed images of the special shoe designed just for the event and now they have to figure out an approrpriate message to reflect their sympathies for everyone affected by this awful tragedy.   He was not looking forward to the day.  Not to mention that Jason is scheduled to travel to Boston next week for meetings.  I'm sure the trip will not be the same and will be largely clouded by this event.

My good friend Michaela lives in Boston and I went to visit her a few years ago.  When I texted her yesterday to make sure she was ok, she told me that we had waited for the bus right where the explosions took place. Which makes all the images on tv so much more real for me.  Boston is a wonderful city and yesterday was meant to be a day of joy and pride for those who accomplished a great feat but instead it was turned into a day of terror, one that forever changed the lives of those involved.

In all of this I can't help but wonder what's next?  How many more of these tragedies are we going to see in our lifetime?  If these horrible things are happening now, what are my kids going to see in 30 years?  How can we feel safe anywhere anymore?   When is it going to strike close to home and affect my family or someone I know?  Jason and I were talking this morning and he said to me, "You would think one would only live to see one maybe two significant events like this in a lifetime. We are still young and have lived through so many of these tragedies already."  I had been thinking the same thing.  We've seen the Oklahoma bombing, 9/11, multiple mass shootings at schools, malls, and movie theaters, and now this.  And who knows how many other terrible acts have been prevented.  It all makes me so sad.  It makes me sad for my kids and I question the world I am bringing them into.  The day their innocence is shattered by one of these events my heart will be broken.

Among all the saddness, anger and questions, it is important to see the good shine through and I try to remember that.  Many people posted a quote by Mr. Rogers on Facebook yesterday "When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.'"  Watching the footage from Boston this proved to be very true.  So many people ran towards the explosion endangering their own lives to help others.  That is what humanity is all about and the good will always outshine and outnumber the bad.  So today asI continue to try and process the events in Boston that is what I am trying to focus on.  The good.  The brave.  The strength of our country and the amazing love and support that we provide one another in times of need.

My thoughts and prayers to all those in Boston and to anyone struggling to comprehend this tragedy as I am.