Commit to affirming human dignity.

It is always a tragedy when people are killed in the process of a conflict. It is abhorrent to us that the behavior of some human beings toward others can result in such tragic consequences. Recognizing those consequences, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the direness of the conflict and be blinded from a vision of what true peace can be. Retribution is not a response to such suffering. It only exacerbates it.

One has to find ways of responding to loss, fear, or anger in ways that do not prolong the conflict. When responding to conflict, commit to whatever is necessary to affirm human dignity. That is the goal. Avoid ways of thinking that result only in panic and anger, further hatred, continued retributions. Find ways, your own ways, that can provide a view of balance, that can provide a firm belief in God’s presence. Seek ways of tapping into that presence.