If you could speak at this evening’s memorial service in Arizona, what would you say?

I think the fact that there’s only one comment here is quite telling. I think most of us are stumped at what could be said to offer hope and console the families and, in turn, the country. I pray the right words, followed by the right actions, can come for all of us.

lets try to be a kinder and nicer nation-minnesota nice!

First to the Voyagers having dropped their bodies and those who yet need further use of theirs:

First Stage of the Voyage chapter.

“Reading #4 – Confronting the Clear Light

~Now I am experiencing the Clear Light of objective reality. Nothing is happening, nothing ever has happened or ever will happen. My present sense of self, the voyager, is in reality the void itself, having no qualities or characteristics. I remember myself as the voyager, whose deepest nature is the Clear Light itself; I am one; there is no other. I am the voidness of the void, the eternal unborn, the uncreated, neither real nor unreal. All that I have been conscious of is my own play of consciousness, a dance of light, the swirling patterns of light in infinite extension, endless endlessness, the Absolute beyond change, existence, reality. I, the voyager, am inseparable from the Clear Light; I cannot be born, die, exist, or change. I know now that this is my true nature.”

–From American Book of the Dead by E.J. Gold

Second, to all, I quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “All life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.This is the interrelated structure of reality. ”

May we live together in kindness, compassion joy and peace.

I would remind our society that while bitter, derisive political rhetoric is obviously not directly responsible for this trajedy, it CLEARLY DOES CONTRIBUTE ENERGY (on a continual, cumulative basis) to anyone inclined to act violently.

I would state that while some may consider “cross-hairs” to be part of our ‘most cherished traditions’, I clearly do not.

My wife, Kelli, had a very apt insight: The “well regulated militia” so ardently advocated by those who believe everyone should be armed, seems to need a lot more regulation.

While the statements of tonight’s speakers will likely end up as sound bytes and quotations in written (published) material, I would sincerely hope each testimonial, eulogy or spiritual lesson is founded upon compassion, love and respect – and not a shrewd analysis of what phrases can be used to earn political points. In the days and weeks to follow, there will be many opportunities for points to be made. That said, if I were one of the speakers at tonight’s memorial, here is a portion of what I would say…

“It is difficult to make sense out of an act of violence that ended the lives of the 6 people we mourn today and caused great suffering and pain for those still struggling to recover. How quickly lives are forever altered, hopes shattered, and dreams lost! But as we meet today to share our sorrows, to grieve and to pray for all who have been harmed — we must turn to the lives of each victim — for inspiration and for hope. Since the tragic event of last weekend, there have been hundreds of stories told about each individual and how he or she has made a positive difference in the lives of others. And it is out of these collective stories we are able to draw the strength and find the courage and wisdom to move forward.”