Choices

All of us fortunate to be granted the gift of life make choices.  Our lives are one big continuum of the choices we make each and every day.  We need to be very cognizant that the choices we make build one upon the other to create who we are and how we, in turn, affect one another.

There will be much commentary about yesterday's Boston Marathon for both the heinous acts of destruction and the heroism displayed in its aftermath. We can't help but compare the duality of good vs. evil after such horrific acts of destructiveness take place.  In its simplest sense, yesterday's events, both the positive and the negative, boil down simply to choices made.

The Boston Marathon, in and of itself, is an event that reflects the choices made by so many:

The runner, who pushes him/herself to train the body to endure the rigors of a marathon, and, by so choosing, ultimately earns a place in this most prestigious marathon.

The fans and spectators, who choose to attend the event to celebrate and cheer those athletes whose choices, and all their previous smaller victories of grit and determination, earned each the honor to take part in the race.

The organizers and facilitators of the marathon who choose to work tirelessly to promote and continue a glorious athletic tradition.

The security forces and medical practitioners standing ready to protect and assist, whose life choices and sacrifices led them to professions of service for their fellow man.  The list goes on ...

Every person in attendance at the marathon was there because of choices made ... as was the perpetrator(s) who set the bombs that caused mayhem and destruction on a day meant to celebrate the victory of the human spirit.  No amount of anger, pain, or pathos justifies this choice to terrorize and harm innocents. There is nothing to be gained, no reward, no glory in such willful destruction.

As with all who choose to act out hurtful, destructive deeds, the perpetrator of yesterday's horror sorely underestimated the better angels of humanity. Those who chose to commit yesterday's horrific crime now hide in cowardice awaiting only the admonishment and punishment earned by their ill choice of action.  In stark contrast, the runners, fans, organizers, security forces and medical practitioners present at the marathon earned admiration for the choices that brought them there and for their subsequent courageousness and acts of heroism in the face of tragedy.

Although tainted by the inhumane choices of a few, nothing could dishonor the better choices of the many in attendance at the Boston Marathon.  Despite the violence and the pain inflicted, yesterday's marathon event still overwhelmingly exemplified the victory of the human spirit and brought forth the better angels of humanity.