What Non-Pray-ers Do for Boston

[TygrBright]

Because all I've seen is "Pray for Boston."

Which is a nice sentiment, and I understand where it comes from. And if it makes you feel better to pray for Boston, by all means, do so.

I am a person of faith and I will be holding all those affected by the tragedy in the Light during my quiet times, as well.

But in the mean time, there are lots of us who don't reflexively "pray for whatever" when bad things happen. What can we do?

1. Stay calm and thoughtful; don't jump to conclusions about who did what to whom and why. Express your sorrow freely but calmly.
2. Speak kindly to one another. Jolts like this make all of us feel fragile and unsettled. Kindness is very helpful.
3. WAIT until more and better news is available before deciding what other positive actions to take, like (for example) giving blood to the Red Cross, or donating to individual victim funds.
4. Be aware that anger is natural but it's not productive unless/until you can put it to action. Most of us can't, so let's try to keep the anger to a minimum.

Basically: Be the best kind of humanity for Boston.

wistfully,
Bright

[Betsy Ross]

1. Bet that's your answer to everything.

It's mine. Being good and treating others well is a great form of prayer or positive meditation. K&R

[TygrBright]

4. Well, I'd like to think it is. Don't know. It SHOULD be.

But I'm only human.

And it doesn't need to be thought of as "prayer."

There's something a little squicky about the idea that only pious supplication of a Deity is a valid response at a time like this.

I'm glad you drew the next connection: Acting kindly and thoughtfully can be a form of prayer if that is your intent.

But if your intent is simply to be thoughtful and kind and you're a committed atheist who feels left out and marginalized by all the talk about praying, you're doing it right, too.

Sorry, not very coherent right now.

sadly,
Bright

[Betsy Ross]

12. Prayer/Meditation

Call it what you will, with or without a deity. Thoughtfulness and positive actions need no justification.

[Zorra]

2. Awewsome post!

[ileus]

3. Watch the coverage on TV.

[OldHippieChick]

5. Random acts of kindness

People are angry - for various reasons. We need to do all we can to lessen their fear, anger, paranoia, etc., whatever it is that tells them violence is their only response.

[TygrBright]

7. Thanks, yes. Caring for one another is the opposite of what happened on Boylston Street.

And in that sense, it is a declaration and an action in opposition to fear and hate.

appreciatively,
Bright

[NightWatcher]

6. and dont forget, Stay Outta The Way!

dont jam phone lines

[TygrBright]

8. Yup. Don't jam phone lines, transit, streets, etc. n/t

[Patiod]

9. You're not by any chance a Friend, are you?

Holding people in the Light, and all that? Sounds like something one of my fellow Quakers would say.

[TygrBright]

10. Yes, I'm a Convinced Friend.

And my default theological matrix is of Christian origin.

But I know perfectly well that my agnostic spouse and my atheist family and friends share fully in my feelings of sorrow and anger and helplessness, and are dealing with them kindly thoughtfully without feeling the imperative to pretend a piety they do not share.

I do feel strongly that feeling unity and being together and caring for one another is an important and positive response.

And I don't want those who aren't into the whole "Pray for" thing to feel left out and marginalized from that.

wistfully,
Bright

[Patiod]

11. Nicely put, TygrBright

We all feel helpless at times like this.

Greetings from a fellow convinced Friend of about 10 years.

[TheMightyFavog]

13. Stealing this. Posting to my facebook.