我想，周五下午乘坐公共交通工具回家的许多人，都经历了类似的场景。我们提心吊胆，努力抓住摇晃的地铁车厢。脑海中萦绕着悲剧的画面。没有人会说“感谢上帝，今天是星期五”，只有“为什么上帝？”和“上帝啊，求求你。”
我们所有人都在用手机阅读新闻，仿佛我们心意相通，同心同德，听到、读到、看到、感受到来自康涅狄格州纽敦的消息时，都感到无比悲痛。
我打电话给妻子，问她情况如何。她含着泪告诉我，当我们去小学接女儿们时（小学距离桑迪胡克小学将近 200 英里），那里的每一位家长都热泪盈眶。
我们的国家以前也经历过悲剧，但这次感觉不一样。也许是因为时节不同。也许是因为我们都从今年秋季选举的紧张气氛和（一度）的谩骂中缓过神来，所以才措手不及。也许是因为26名遇难者中有20名是孩子。年幼的孩子。
我感到异常沉重。这种沉重感与悲伤或担忧不同。沉重感会促使我们采取行动。
这个很重。我想我们大多数人都能感受到它的分量。
和许多人一样，我感到自己想做点什么。我不想让这件事仅仅成为新闻周期中又一个令人悲伤的时刻，我们短暂地关注一下，几天后就被其他事情分散了注意力。我不想遗忘，也不想逃避，我想做点什么。
我很快——或许太快了——就转向社交媒体，加入到成千上万、甚至数百万表达集体伤痛和愤怒的人群中。或许，这种线上聚集帮助我们缓解了部分人正在经历的职场创伤。
然而，我感觉我的话语还不够。
我不是政客，所以无法直接推动那些姗姗来迟、或许无法彻底根除枪支暴力，但肯定能有效遏制枪支暴力的政策改革。我也不富裕，所以无力承担那26位在寒冷的清晨于新英格兰丧生者的葬礼费用，那场枪击案将永远铭刻在我们心中。
但我能做的只有祈祷。祈祷时，我内心深处感到一种精神行动的召唤。我感到一种禁食的召唤。所以，接下来的27天，我将禁食。每天为纽敦枪击案中逝去的每一条生命而禁食——包括枪手的生命。
斋戒一直是我灵修生活的一部分，但我一直被教导不要告诉别人我在斋戒，因为斋戒是私事——只属于你和上帝之间。这不是作秀，也不是为了博取关注。但这一次，我想，或许通过分享我为和平而斋戒的经历，我（我们）不仅能在灵性上更深入地思考这个问题，也能激励我们周围的人也采取行动。
或许有人会觉得，一个人的内在行为能够改变周遭世界，这种想法很疯狂。但历史却证明并非如此。那些给世界带来最大改变的人，往往从他们深邃的精神世界汲取力量，将慈悲、关怀和爱倾注于周围的世界。那些在印度、南非、西藏、南美洲、欧洲各地以及美国，为争取自由、人权和改变人心而奋斗的人们——他们参与了争取民权、自由与和平的各种运动——深知斋戒的强大力量。
因此，我怀着四项主要祷告进行斋戒：
1. 我正在禁食祈祷，愿我们的国家在与枪支暴力作斗争的漫长而痛苦的道路上取得突破。尤其祈求我们的领导人有勇气提出、通过并完善我们国家、各州和各城市的枪支法律。
2. 我正在禁食祷告，祈求我身边那些家中拥有枪支（尤其是用于自卫）的人能够安全地处理掉它们。研究表明，拥有枪支非但不能让人更安全，反而会增加家庭枪支暴力的可能性。卖掉或处理掉我们拥有的枪支是一个强有力的行动，可以在我们这个小小的世界里带来改变。与拥有枪支的家人和朋友交谈，鼓励他们将枪支从家中移除，是我们每个人都能做的重要事情。
3. 我正在禁食祈祷，愿枪支暴力及其背后令人痛心的种种境况能够得到解决。愿那些内心痛苦、被暴力驱使的人们能够得到关怀，改变人生轨迹。愿那些遭受心理健康、情绪健康和灵性健康问题困扰的人们能够得到所需的帮助。愿我们所有人都能尽己所能，为世界增添更多美好。
4. 最后，我禁食祈祷，愿我们都能被那些勇敢而了不起的老师们深深感动和激励，他们保护了学生们。他们展现了那种减少和消除我国枪支暴力所需要的勇气。
新年将至。过去两年，我参与了一个名为“第13号决议”的项目，该项目鼓励人们制定具有服务精神和社会责任感的新年计划。我原本不确定今年要立什么目标，但现在我明白了。今年，我将致力于提高公众对枪支暴力问题的认识，并努力改变我们国家乃至全世界的枪支暴力现状。我将从禁食开始。我将与一群杰出人士并肩前行，共同努力，使我们的国家从枪支暴力问题最严重的国家之一，转变为一个以和平著称的国家。
如果你深受感动，不妨也尝试一下禁食，这真是一件幸事。禁食可以是节制饮食（请务必先咨询医生），也可以是戒除其他事物，例如互联网、社交媒体或电视。禁食是一种强大的精神修行方式，几乎所有世界主要宗教都曾在几个世纪中运用过。它与祈祷一样，是那些感到受到指引、致力于变革的精神行动者所使用的有力工具。而且，它确实有效。
你们当中有些人可能不想禁食。或许你们可以在家里或学校组织一场讨论会。或者帮忙发起请愿，呼吁我们的政治领导人采取行动。或者在你们的礼拜场所进行学习。或者祈祷、布道、唱歌、跳舞、绘画或写作。或者做其他完全不同的事情。
枪支暴力问题并非仅仅是国会山、白宫和市政厅官员的责任。你可能不同意我解决枪支暴力问题的方式，这没关系。如果你认为其他方法更有效，那就把精力放在这些方法上，而不是试图阻挠你不认同的途径。关键在于，无论我们采取何种方式，这个问题都必须得到解决。这是每个人的问题，每个人都能贡献一份力量。接下来27天，我将保持沉默。你呢？
和平。
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Well...the guidance arrived at first I was not going share this but I decided here as it might assist others in finding ways to honor this tragic event...
With a Compassionate Heart and Intention for...
Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female- Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male- Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female.- Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female- Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female- Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female- Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06, male- Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65, female- Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06, female- Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06, female- Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male- Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06, male- James Mattioli , 3/22/06, male- Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05, female- Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female- Emilie Parker, 5/12/06, female- Jack Pinto, 5/06/06, male- Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male- Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06, female- Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06, female- Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female- Lauren Rousseau, 6/1982, female (full date of birth not specified)- Mary Sherlach, 2/11/56, female- Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female- Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male- Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06, female
Adam Lanza and all those who have participated in unnecessary crimes of the heart and mind.
Inspired by Rev. Charles Howard ..i am joining in solidarity with the intent I will see how I can better serve our world and deliver a world that will continue for 7 generations and protect our children from living in fear.
My heart weighs heavy today. 7 years ago, I lost my son half way through my pregnancy. I had to go to a clinic to have him removed from my womb because they were not sure if I would not survive delivery. Many at the clinic were choosing to “conclude” their baby’s life. I could not understand why a mother would choose this but I also had more compassion that day for those women then I could ever imagine. While, this does not compare to your parents loss, it only gives me a slight understanding of their pain and the road that lies before them to heal and make sense of all this.
I cannot imagine why Adam killed any of you other than his soul, mind and being were not at rest and/or maybe because our collective minds are not at rest. I see that these senseless crimes and wars must be stopped and we cannot keep turning the cheek. I realize that the clearer our hearts and minds are...is possibly the only way to cultivate authentic peace on earth. Today, I will begin a modified fast and prayer/meditation in honor of all of you and all of US that continue to suffer. With the intention that we may all remember the causes of happiness. Since, I have two children...I do not know if I can manage a full fast so I have selected these foods in honor of you all and asking mother earth, father sky and father sun for some wisdom to be returned to me so I can assist in healing self and taking action to return peace to the world around me.
Rice...for may you connect me deeper to the earth and nourish all of these children and women during their passage through the bardo and impart a better understanding of peace on my soul.
Sunflower seeds...may you remove the toxins from my mind, body and soul...and remind these women and children to follow the White LIGHT.
Living Tea...keep educating me...clearing my mind and clearing my heart. Guide these souls as you have guided me.
Kale...purify my blood, purify my meditations, purify my heart
Carrots...help me see more clearly and lead these sweet souls to their next...grant them the necessary guides to find their way without strife.
May my daily prayers and silence assist you, your family, your friends, and all of us to remember that we truly can live in peace and heal & love from within.
Humbly bowing to all of you for reflecting the collective errors of all our ways.
[Hide Full Comment]Rev. Howard, this sounds like a wonderful thing to do. I will pass this article to everyone I possible can so that they can think of ways to 'fast' as you have stated here -- whether it be food, drink, computer, etc. I believe we all can do something to help to end the violence that our society has up until now heard about, but not really paid much attention to until it happens to them directly, or a magnitude such as this tragedy. The violence has weighed heavily upon my heart for some time now, and I've always wondered what I could do to help eradicate/alleviate it. With so much violence aimed at our youth in video games, television and all the ways media has invaded our lives, it is going to take a miracle to penetrate this evil force that seem to have overtaken our nation. Where is GOD is always my first question when I heard of such tragedy. Whether it is one person killed by guns, or many. Why have we allowed such evil to have overtaken our society? This has been coming for many years now, and it has reared its ugly head time, and time again. We have got to finally 'get it.' Let's take back our country from the forces who say we have the 'right to bear arms.' I've never wanted to own a gun, or anyone in my family for that matter. We've gotten along without arms all this time, and have never had the need for them - except once when my grandfather had to assist a neighbor in shooting a snake that had gotten into their home, and I'm talking 50 years ago. Now 50 years later, we see what the 'RIGHT to Bear Arms' has gotten us. Nowhere, but continuous violence and killing for nothing. Now what?
[Hide Full Comment]"Put more good out into the world" jumped out at me and each one of us can do that to counteract all the negativity that seems so very abundant now worldwide. One act of kindness at a time from each of us. We do not have to feel helpless..... together we are powerful force for good. Namaste.
This is beautifully inspiring...and I am going to participate...I am not sure what it will look like but at the dawn of tomorrow I will join you my friend in solidarity with the intention that I will know how I can better serve our global citizens....deep humble bow..
I agree with Sundi. It is not gun control we need to worry about but the condition of people's minds. This obviously was a deeply distress and paranoid family including Adam's mother who had deep fears regarding social and economic demise. She was known to be a "survivalist". That simple fact shows how much fear she had about her world and the people around her. Didn't anyone care then that she needed help. The guns didn't get up and shoot those people someone in very deep despair did. And yet no one noticed or cared before this horrible day.
Wow, that was very touching. Thank you.
This discussion should be about the effect that SSRIs have on children. SSRIs are killing kids who are killing kids Why aren't we talking about
psych drugs? Study
after study has shown that psychotic episodes are caused by nutritional
deficiencies in the brain 90% of the time, and they usually start when
the child is very young. For the other 10% yes, look into drugs, but use them carefully, slowly, discontinue at the first sign of violence or depression. It's the drugs that change the chemistry of the brain and move
the thoughts toward suicide and violence: It's easy enough to do a
little research, but the news media will NOT be reporting on the
connection between pharmaceuticals and violence.
A couple of very relevant and easy to read support documents:
http://www.cchrint.org/scho...
and
http://www.ssristories.com/...
I appreciate the desire to fast to bring attention to gun control. No doubt the Rev's heart and soul are in the right place. But I sincerely believe the discussion about guns is not the one we need to be having right now.
[Hide Full Comment]The world is old,truly the world is old and totally disorganized that social values and compassion for fellow human had faded.just as treasures are uncovered from the earth,so virtue appears from good deeds,and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. this is the time we activate our spiritual awareness so to avoid innocent souls from perishing.the question is why does it happen prior to election and after election? our politician must answer it...they can not use innocent souls to pacify their gods for power gains.
A great heart-touching piece on this extremely heart-rendering tragedy, the impact of which is felt by all peace-loving, God's people all over the world, not only in the US, but even me in Ghana in Africa. I dedicate myself to be with you in this noble action, Reverend, and pray that God will console the families, especially the parents and siblings, of the unfortunate victims. God bless you!
When I heard about the shootings I was filled with helpless rage and despair. Then I thought about all the other children all over the world who suffer and die needlessly. I can't prevent some tragedies. But I CAN prevent others. So I set up a monthly donation to the Against Malaria Foundation which will save the lives of small children all over the world, month after month. I also reflected that we grieve because we love. But it is all too easy to take love for granted and to show anger, frustration to our children. So in addition to donating, I am renewing my commitment to parenting with lovingkindness and gratitude in recognition of how blessed I am to have children to love.