We all seem to come together in times of national tragedy. And thank God we do. We can never answer the “why?” What causes the violent to take innocent lives and leave others maimed and forever changed?

Our hearts are broken for those that were in Boston this week to celebrate Patriot’s Day and run the Boston Marathon but not be able to finish the race due to a senseless act of terrorism. Our prayers go out to the families of those who perished, for those who were injured and all of those who are suffering today. They will continue to need healing in the weeks and months to come.

When 9/11 came to America we ALL were changed. Forever. Yet we all came together. That is one way we prepare ourselves. Unity and community. That is what we witnessed in Boston yesterday and what we remember in New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania almost twelve years ago. We need each other. There are no Big I’s and Little You’s.

And yet in times of terror and tragedy we need more, much more. Our hope and our trust have to be in a higher power, and not just any higher power. There is only One saving hope and that is in the Name that is above every Name, Jesus Christ. He was there in September, 11, 2001 and He was in Boston Monday, April, 15, 2013.

He showed up in the first responders, paramedics and the innocent bystanders who turned into volunteer nurses. He was there in the form of the marathon runners, who instead of finishing the race, kept running all the way to the hospital to give blood for the wounded and dying.

We have been here before; we do not want to be here ever again. But yet the reality is that we may experience it many times to come. How do we prepare our hearts and our families if it comes to our neighborhood? And how do we comfort one another and move on?

We have to realize we live in a fallen and evil world. We can’t change that but we can change ourselves and our reaction to it. We can be prepared on the inside. This isn’t all there is to living. There is another hope beyond this life and that is our confidence. But while we are here, we focus on the good and the living and reach for those that are dying.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 ESV.

We look up, and we look outward. We become Kingdom minded. That’s what the love of Christ is all about and we carry it with us wherever we go. When we become like Him, and His purpose, then we become ONE, united together with Him and we are unstoppable. Those that want to terrorize us want us to be cowering with fear, huddled in our homes, and paralyzed with so much anxiety and dread that we cannot even function.

But when our hope is in Jesus and we are rooted and grounded in Him, our faith is strengthened and our resolve is firm. We are then concerned with our brother and our love for our fellowman takes precedence over our own personal wants and needs. This is The Church, The Body of Christ, working together for the common good.

Let’s forget about our petty differences and focus on the important things in life like:

The Kingdom.

The Love of God.

Our Neighbor.

The Hurting.

The Outcast.

The Lost.

The Dying.

The Sick.

We can’t afford to be picking and back-stabbing and finding fault with one another. It’s not worth it. Time is too short. And life is just too good to be wasting it on hurting each other.

Ask the people in Boston.

Life is Precious.