On April 15, 2013 we experienced another horrific, tragic event, this time near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.   The expression "running toward" (or "ran toward") rings through many of the stories that were told and still are told  --- these are the stories about all of the people who ran toward the massive horror on the streets of Boston.  They immersed themselves in the danger and chaos, with seemingly no thought of their own safety or well-being, in order to aid those who were wounded, maimed, or profoundly disoriented by the bombing.   Many were professional first-responders; many were "ordinary" women and men who simply saw other people in need and ran toward them to do whatever they could.  In the midst of such a horrifying story as the Boston Marathon bombing, we are inspired and heartened by their running toward others with all of the bravery, strength and selflessness they could muster.

Honestly, I don't know what I would have done.  I can imagine what I would like to think I would have done.   One thing I do know -- I can try, in my own way, to be more fearless when I see a need and "run toward it".   Most of us won't ever have to find out if we have the kind of bravery by which people ran toward those who were caught in the cross fire ;  but this latest tragedy reminds us, once again, that we need one another.   May we be strengthened by the "run toward" heart and spirit that we witnessed at the Boston Marathon finish line.   May those whose lives have been changed forever be healed with the power and energy of the love in our hearts and actions.  May we run toward anything and everything we can do to create peace in our world.

Martin Richard, 8 years old, killed in the Boston Marathon bombing, April 15, 2013