Newtown a year later: We choose love

This article originally appeared as 'Today's article on Christian Science' in the December 13, 2013 edition of The Christian Science Monitor.

The outpouring of love since last year’s tragic shooting at an elementary school in my community has been colossal. Not only did I know people who were directly affected, everyone I know here did as well. But even through the terrible pain, I understood that God – whom I know as Love itself – wasn’t in this. And I knew that God could redeem it.

This divine redemption brings to mind a statement written by Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science. She wrote in her bestselling book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Evil is not supreme; good is not helpless” (p. 207). Also the Bible says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Amazingly, this is what has happened in our community; we have proved it possible under the most challenging of circumstances.

Newtown received literally tons of mail filled with heartfelt thoughts from all over the world, all of which was opened, read, and cherished. Financial contributions flooded in. People knit scarves in green and white for every student in the school, and churches sent hand-knit prayer shawls, each stitch a prayer for our community.

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