Life has been filled with joyful moments that replaced the need to purge thoughts, until recently……

Just a week ago, I sat before a television cheering on my hometown football team as they secured their place in this years Superbowl. The energy throughout the city was electrifying, and Philadelphians blanketed the streets as proud residents, not individuals with different beliefs.

The Commanders returned to Washington without ticker tape or fanfare, and the Eagles prepared to converge upon the Big Easy. We rejoiced in victory for three days and three nights, but on the fourth night tragedy struck as planes collided over the skies of Washington, taking the lives of 67 individuals.

Gears had to shift, and beating the Commanders became less important than praying for the District of Columbia. Following the accident, hurtful – harmful – hateful things were said that simply were untrue. A distraction from the reality that lives were lost yet a reminder of the reality that this is life!

Anger replaced empathy, and at a time when the nation should have grieved, it argued politics!

On Wednesday, we prayed for Washington and come Friday, we stood in need of prayers ourselves.

“PLANE CRASHES NEAR ROOSEVELT AND COTTMAN” were the headlines! The area is a crowded intersection surrounded by businesses and homes. Preliminary fatalities are reported to be six, but now that the sun shines, a new story may emerge.

How did we go from on field rivalry to shared devastation? The shift from Washington vs. Philadelphia to Washington and Philadelphia makes no sense!

Two cities divided yet united by tragedy, nothing makes sense!