Five Italian visitors to New York City died in a helicopter/plane collision on Sunday over the Hudson. A memorial service was held for them yesterday here in the city.
I'm reminded of the words of William Sloane Coffin, whose son Alex died at age 24 in a car crash.
Tired of hearing well-meaning friends say, “It is the will of God,” he responded with this: “My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die. That when the waves closed over the sinking car, God’s heart was the first to break.”
That's a very beautiful and moving sentiment.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it was the will of God when my niece was killed by a drunk driver.
Janet, The photo and words of Mr. Coffin took my breath away. May peace be with us all along our journeys...
ReplyDeleteWow...now that was truly profound.
ReplyDeleteThose families will definitely be in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThis is a page with the entire very moving eulogy that W.S. Coffin gave for his son.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pbs.org/now/society/eulogy.html
Beautiful quote. I wholeheartedly agree. It was certainly not the will of God when those vibrant women were shot to death at the health club here in Pittsburgh, either.
ReplyDeleteAmen! My God is saddened by our suffering. I'm blessed that He is here to comfort us.
ReplyDeleteSo very sad, I couldn't believe it when I heard about this dreadful tragedy on Sky News.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, haunting thing to say.
ReplyDeleteThat picture is heart breaking! How terrible. They were on vacation? Just Awful.
ReplyDeleteIt is with a lump in my throat that I read Mr. Coffin's words and looked at the photo. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI somehow missed hearing about the whole thing until I got back to the city a day after it happened. Just awful, but I like the quote.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteI love that saying.
ReplyDeleteThat is, indeed, heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteYou blow me away when you reveal your huge heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post.
Horrible. Nine lives, and four families severed irreperably. Plus, the anguish of their friends and loved ones, and the trauma to hundreds of souls watching from below.
ReplyDeleteMy heart bleeds for the families, and for a too-shattered New York City.
I love Mr. Coffin's thinking. I've always questioned the idea that God causes everything. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the quote. True words.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, that is so sad. The pic with cars lined up really is so alarming.
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Coffin's quote.