Beauty comes from tragedy

My cousin's highschool friend was assaulted refereeing an adult soccer league game the other day.  In less than 24 hours he was pronounced dead.He was assaulted and later died from injuries, doing something he loved and something that helped provide additional income for his family.  He was doing something he loved.  How does such a thing happen?I reached out to my cousin and relayed my sincere condolences, for even though I never met him, the news has made me stop and take a look at my life a little bit this week.  In my cousin's words...."hug your kids.  Never know." How true are those words?  For many of us live under this false notion that our life span will surpass that of our elders, and we have seemingly eternity to make amends or do what is necessary to truly LIVE our life. But we never know....The news has done more than impact the family members and those immediately involved in the day to day life of this man (a husband, father, son, brother, friend, coach, referee, etc)...it hasn't even "just" touched the immediate community.  Facebook posts, news stories, emails, texts all abound with the similar sentiment of how could this happen?  A wonderful "family man" gone, far too soon...and for what?  He was doing something he loved.  He died, doing something he loved.It reminds me of other senseless acts that have happened in our society, all leaving us to wonder why? or How could God allow this to happen? I, like so many others, wonder and struggle with the "why" of tragedies, and as much as I have pondered and prayed and meditated on this subject, I am still left stunned.  I find myself getting frustrated, even angry, and think....is there another way? Is there something else that can be done to make sense of something that seems senseless? This is what I've found, the beauty that comes from tragedy, that is my focus.  When I focus my thoughts on the beauty that surfaces out of darkness, the tragedy no longer has as much power or strength in my thoughts or in my life.In a little over 2 days after his senseless death, over $94,000 has been raised to help support his family through an online fund.www.gofundme.com (John Bieniewicz).A-mazing!I would surmise those who have donated thus far are largely those who did not know John or his family, but wanting to do something to ease their pain, even if it is in the effort of helping them to not worry about money so much.  Americans are a generous people, within our nation and beyond, we are a nation to be proud of today and always.So what lessons, or light is possible to gleam from such a tragic occurrence?  Nothing seems to be grand enough to make up for the profound loss I can only imagine the family is experiencing, but perhaps his legacy for those of us who have just heard about his life is, as my cousin suggested, "hug our kids", and to stop and really show compassion and kindness to others around us? Perhaps his legacy for those of us who have just heard about his life is to love one another, on and off the field."Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love.  Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy." Sai Baba.  Love.  And I would argue Peace.  Are the greatest healing energies.Peace......