Holding the Light

Although I write a blog about how to deal with life through a spiritual perspective, I am really no different than most of my readers. I have a very regular life with two children and a husband. I take my children to school everyday and I deal with the stresses of everyday parenting. When I heard the news of the Sandy Hook elementary shooting, I cried like most people in the United States and around the world. I lost some sleep and prayed for the families that lost a loved one. I write this blog with total awareness of the reality of what just occurred.

However, since Friday almost every time I speak with a friend or family member they say to me “it is a scary world that we live in.”  As a parent, if I totally own that thought, what kind of parent will I be? Will I allow my child to walk to school by herself, go to the movie theater with her friends and experience new things? If I own that thought, will I experience an edginess or sheer terror every time she wants more independence? Will I teach her the world is a scary place and she should worry and be careful at every turn? I don’t know about you, but I could never be present, joyful and hopeful in my life if I parent with this premise.

I also don’t want my children to be afraid to go to school or to live in fear. Yes, I tell them when bad things happen, but I also tell them that just because bad things happen that doesn’t mean that they won’t be okay. When they are scared about the future I tell them to stay in Maybe. I explain that Maybe everything that they are worried about will turn out good, maybe it will get better or maybe we will all find a way to accept whatever comes our way.  I asked them, “Why think it will be bad when it could also be good?”

With Maybe, I give my children back hope and possibility for them to pursue their goals and dreams without fear. I give them back hope and possibility that the world can improve and become a more peaceful place. 
Maybe is not a guarantee that everything in life will be fine, but instead it is a place where my children can constantly stand to open up to all that is possible and more likely find their way.

I refuse to let dark and evil acts become more important than the kindness in so many people’s hearts. As parents, we cannot feel bad enough to undue what happened on Friday in Newtown Connecticut. What we can do is hold the light for those that have suffered from this tragedy and help all our children to live hopeful and joyful lives with a brighter future.

It is all about the Maybe.