Jesus Creed
Among the most difficult sessions at the Sojourners Summit […] was the panel on gun violence. …
One of the people on the panel at the Summit was Mark Barden, whose son, Daniel, was one of the first-graders murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Barden spoke with the kind of authenticity that can’t be coached. He seemed to be grieving with his whole self. Even the way he held his body looked sorrowful; the slope of his shoulders, the turn of his feet.
Speaking briefly about his son, Barden also, in a moving demonstration of grace, expressed compassion for Adam Lanza — although he didn’t mention him by name. Daniel, Barden said, was the kind of kid who’d look out for anyone who seemed lonely, sad, unnoticed, unseen. He checked up on people; checked in with people.
The person who killed his son, he said, was one of those kids who was often alone; the kind of kid who felt invisible. The kind of kid who maybe needed — among many other things — a friend like Daniel.
“Pick your eyes up from the sidewalk and look at people,” Mr. Barden pleaded, with tears in his eyes. Yes, we should call our representatives; yes, we should make our voices heard where laws are made. But we should also do what we can to foster empathy; to create a world where no one feels invisible and ignored — least of all those who disproportionately fall victim to our collective failure to care enough to act.
Look at people, he said. Take your eyes off your smartphone and say hello. Smile. Let no one around you feel invisible.
– See more at: http://rachelmariestone.religionnews.com/2014/06/26/sandy-hook-dad-can-right-now-help-prevent-violence/#sthash.rAcznT0m.dpuf
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In