I cannot say with any veracity that I am less angry today than I was yesterday about the tragedy in Colorado.  I can, however, admit that I am slightly less upset.  Now, I am not at all certain how to effectively describe the difference, but I can tell you that the vigorous thumping in my chest has tapered a bit—and my desire to simultaneously spit and dance on Charleton Heston’s grave has subsided considerably.  So, clearly, today I’m feeling a bit more normal.  I attribute this to one thing only: This morning, along with our church’s outreach ministry, I got up and did something for someone other than myself.  I don’t mention this because I wish to boast a sense of selfless benevolence, any more than I would pride myself on taking a couple of aspirin for a headache.  I mention it simply because it helped me feel better.

Early this morning, we gathered at Oasis Church and drove down to meet up with some lovely people at the Compton Initiative (justdogood.org), whose mission, as stated, is to “partner with other entities (churches, business, community residents) to bring restoration and hope to the community of Compton.”  Simply put, we went out and hauled trash, cleared away tree trimmings, cleaned yards and painted fences and houses for people who are either unable to do the work themselves, or cannot afford to hire someone else to do it.  We were literally cleaning up neighborhoods.  It was hard work, and it was also fun.  I felt better afterwards, and I firmly believe this is because my activity this morning—unlike this blog—was not about me.

In fact, this was a perfect way to take my mind off the sorrow and horror found in the story of six-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, who went to see Batman with her mother Thursday night and came home dead because some lost soul thought shooting up a movie theater was the order of the day…  Sorry.   I’m doing it again.  At any rate, while I would not propose the type of thing I did this morning as a feel-good panacea for little Veronica’s family right now (nor for the loved ones of any of the twelve souls who perished Friday morning), I do recommend, for the rest of us, occasionally stepping outside one’s self and owning a place in a larger community as a method of maintaining a sense of hope, a sense of belonging and a sense of humility; for what we have—and what we can so easily give.   I promise that it will, in fact, make you feel better.