I was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and grew up in Stratford, Connecticut. So one could argue that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, literally hit close to home for me. Two of my sisters still live in Connecticut. In July, my father died in Connecticut. Five of my siblings graduated from Stratford High School, the alma mater of Vicki Soto, the teacher who lost her life heroically shielding her students from the gunman. When I was in high school, I participated in academic clubs that took me to Newtown High School once or twice. And my sister, who is an elementary school teacher in a town not far from Newtown, tells me that like many of us, my ten-year-old niece cried all weekend.

As a spiritual teacher, I am asked by many folks how I respond to tragedies such as this or other cataclysmic events — like the 2004 tsunami, the Haitian earthquake, drought, famine, and other man-made or natural disasters. My first response to those who ask is that yes, I will share what I think and feel, and I hope that it will provide you with some insight and comfort. But please note that my response is my own and that we are each unique extensions of the divine and should allow ourselves to respond in a way that is in alignment with who we each are at our core. My response is not "the right response" — it's just me being me. And if that helps you to be you, great.

My Response to the Tragedy

First, like everyone else, I grieve. I allow myself to feel the sadness and horror of the situation, and my heart connects with a deep well of emotions and feelings. I cry at the thought that, on this plane, the world has been deprived of the innate brilliance of so many souls, and I weep at the potential that has been lost. I ponder the fact that I have children of my own; I have young nieces and nephews and friends who have young children; I have siblings and friends who are educators; and I know many colleagues who heal and help those going through trauma. I ponder these connections and feel what I would feel if my loved ones were taken from me or somehow stuck in the midst of these terrible events.