Living with Honor in Tragic Times

Less than a week after a sniper’s shot killed five Dallas police officers and wounded twelve others a terrorist drove a 21-ton truck through a Bastille Day celebratory crowd killing 84 people and grievously injuring over 200. Just now as I am writing this three police officers have been killed, three more wounded in a Baton Rouge ambush. We seem wrapped in an pandemic of hate. 

But let us remember the perpetuators of evil are few. We, the vast majority, pursue peace, scorn prejudice, seek harmony. 

Let us remember that tragic events spur stirring and tender moments: 

• Police rushing toward the shots to serve those in danger
• Police risking their lives to shield and protect bystanders from harm
• Strangers of all races and colors gathering around the bereaved and the frightened 
• Volunteers turning anger into productive community service 
• Churches filling 
• Prayer vigils forming
• Police Chief David Brown appealing for duty and honor: 
• Become a part of the solution. Serve your communities. Don’t be a part of the problem. We’re hiring. Get off that protest line and put an application in, and we’ll put you in your neighborhood. And we will help you resolve some of the problems you’re protesting about. 
• George Walker Bush at the Dallas Memorial for the five assassinated police officers extolling our common values: 
• Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions. And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common purpose. But Americans, I think, have a great advantage. To renew our unity we only need to remember our values. We have never been held together by blood or background. We are bound by things of the spirit—by shared commitments to common ideals. 

We would be inhuman if we felt no horror, if we experienced no sadness or frustration, fear or anger, yet we have the responsibility to those who died and those who mourn, to ourselves and to our country to use our emotions in a way befitting our ancestors. 

We can be sad, but not despondent. Angry, but not bitter. Vigilant, but not paranoid. Anxious, but not immobilized. Reflective, but not worried. 

We can respect and honor each other. We can cultivate harmonious family relationships. We can trust God for who He is—the omniscient, omnipresent almighty. 

From the highest to the humblest tasks, we all have our part to play. Let us brace ourselves with our duties and so arm ourselves with rectitude that we march always in the ranks of honor.