What we choose to do next is no accident

When tragedy strikes the timing is never right, particularly if the tragedy impacts one personally. The death of three area teens, which was caused by a senseless car accident, will haunt people for years. Our hearts go out to their families and friends. Our empathy also extends to the friends and family of the driver, all of whom must also be dealing with extraordinary pain.

The timing of this accident was truly ironic. It happened on Father's Day. It happened at the start of an important convention for Chiefs of Police from across the province, which was held (and wraps up today) in Greater Sudbury. The accident was a tremendous blow for fathers and for Greater Sudbury's police service.

There are some who believe "everything happens for a reason," and others who believe the world is ruled by chaos.

Both ideologies can apply in this situation. Either way, last weekend's events serve as a critical wake-up call.

The questions and concerns flowing into our newsroom over the last few days have been overwhelming. People want to talk about what went wrong, who is to blame, how this situation can be avoided in the future, and more. People want to vent and some want vengeance.

Singer and songwriter Diana Krall wrote in her song, Abandoned Masquerade, "You can cry a pool of tears and sit beside it. Then perhaps you'll know what you want." Her words make one reflect on the necessity of mourning and how the process refines our souls and desires and hopefully spurs us onward to make this sometimes senseless world a better place in which to live.

When one decides to move on from that pool of tears - though make no mistake, grief will be ever present - it is what one does next that is so important.

The context in which this accident played out is tremendously rich with meaning. Dads on Father's Day undoubtedly held their kids a little tighter and refocused their energies on loving their families. Police at the conference being held in Sudbury likely sharpened their critical thinking skills a bit more as they debated policing issues from across the province, including the issue of impaired driving.

This last paragraph is an assumption. And so, the question remains: will positive action result from this tragedy? As Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa once wrote: "We must embrace the pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."
May the journey be well run.

Wendy Bird is managing editor of Northern Life newspaper.