On Friday, December 14th at 9:30 AM a small town by the name of Newtown Connecticut was thrust in the minds and hearts of all people around the world.  A horrific shooting had taken place that morning at an elementary school in Sandy Hook – an adjacent town to Newtown.  In the aftermath, twenty-six people lost their lives, including the gunman and his own mother.

How do we make sense or meaning out of a moment of such grief?  This time of year we are preparing for the wonderful seasons of Hanukkah and Christmas: a time of joy and a time that usually brings friends and family together for celebration.  Yet our hearts are broken by this event in Newtown.  We can ask ourselves, what is there to celebrate?  Some in the town have begun taking their Christmas and holiday decorations down.  Furthermore, where is God in all of this?  What good could ever come from such an event?

Over the past week we have heard the stories of the victims little by little as they have all been laid to rest.  One story in particular truly stood out to me. It is the story of Jack Pinto, age 6, who was a huge New York Giants fan.  As a matter of fact, one of his heroes was Victor Cruz.  He looked up to this athlete, had a jersey with his name on it, and always spoke to his parents how he was going to be just like Victor when he grew up.  Sadly, we now know that little Jack will not have that opportunity.  However, the story of Jack made its way to Victor Cruz.   Victor called the family of Jack Pinto and offered his condolences and prayers.  These are Victor’s words: “I also spoke to an older brother and he was distraught as well. I told him to stay strong and I was going to do whatever I can to honor him,” Cruz said after the Giants’ game with the Atlanta Falcons. “He was fighting tears and could barely speak to me.”

After Victor Cruz had time to address the family, he was asked by the media how he was affected by the shooting and the story of little Jack.  Cruz said he was reminded “just how short life can be, how much you have to cherish every moment, how much you have to cherish every opportunity, every chance you get with your family. Never take anything for granted because just a day at school can change all that.”

Perhaps as we offer our prayers and support to this little town, we too can keep Victor Cruz’s reflection and thoughts in our own hearts.  Do we take the time to cherish the gifts in our lives, the gifts that cannot be placed around a Christmas tree?  Do we hold onto grudges with friends or family members?  Perhaps this is the time to forgive and heal those wounds.  Jack Pinto and all of his friends lived a very ordinary morning the day of December 14th, very much like our own “ordinary” moments.  And as little Jack was laid to rest on December 18th, he wore a jersey with Victor Cruz’s name on it.  Victor, in his Sunday game against the Atlanta Falcons, decorated his athletic gear with Jack’s name.  What a wonderful reminder and sign of God’s grace as we journey through these end days leading to the birth of light into our world.  A light that violence will never be able to extinguish.