Thoughts on the Virginia Tech tragedy

(Crossposted from www.insidewealth.net)

This is horrific beyond words.

Unlike other acts of terror around the world, there is no organization like Al-Qaeda or Hezbollah to retaliate against.

The media is sensationalizing this story, spreading fear this senseless act instills because it's good for business.

To have so many young, innocent lives taken needlessly, it can rock the faith of even the most devoted. How can a loving God allow for such human suffering?

It is clear that Cho took his life and the lives of others because he felt isolated and so disconnected to the sanctity and value of human life. Not that this is a justification of his actions, because nothing justifies this atrocity. Nothing.

And still we can use this tragedy to transform ourselves and humanity to a higher standard of being.

It certainly shows that we are deeply inter-connected, as evidenced by how profoundly we are affected by this horrible event to total strangers.

It also serves as a reminder, even as there is so much beyond our control in this life, that we do have the power as to where we place our attention every moment.

Through the internet and our global economy, our world is shrinking. We need to place more of our attention on our common humanity, on being truthful, caring and respectful with each other, on building our own character and inspiring others, on instilling trust.

As this horrifying tragedy cuts through our layers of ego and personal stories to the core, it touches our very essence as spirits in human form. It gives us a greater sense of our own mortality. And, hopefully, a greater sense of gratitude for being alive. What if each of us spent more moments every day focused on this?

How could we evolve, individually and collectively?

What do you think? How do you feel?