This week two explosions rocked the Boston Marathon finish line. Our country faces with horror and disbelief yet another senseless violent act just a few short months after the Newtown shooting.

When I heard about Newtown tragedy, the first thought that popped into my head was, "People who love themselves and feel loved don't do this sort of thing." My reaction to the Boston Marathon explosion echos this sentiment. We don't yet know who or why someone would make the conscious choice to kill innocent people but I'll bet ya we find out "they don't love themselves or feel loved".

If you watched the 60 minutes a few weeks back with the parents/partners of some of those killed at Sandy Hook you heard the plea of David Wheeler, dad of 6-year-old victim Ben, to look in the mirror and ask yourself if this could happen in your town. . . if there is any shadow of doubt do something about it he implores us.

I believe in gun control and background checks but I also believe that we can make as many rules as we can think of but until we get to the root of the problem the threat will always be there.

The more I think about this topic, the more convinced I am in the need for love to prevail here. Anger and revenge, although gratifying at times, actually plant the seeds of violence. I can't get the words to stop repeating in my head. . .

PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEMSELVES AND FEEL LOVED DON'T: _______________________.

Fill in the blank.  Shoot innocent children. Kill others. Exploit. Abuse children. Rape. Manipulate. Dominate. Violate. Knowingly pollute the planet. Steal. Lie. Bully. How would you finish the sentence?

So, Mr. Wheeler, I want you to know I for one am looking in the mirror. I am making a much more serious effort to express LOVE to myself and others around me, especially to people who seem to need it the most. I am looking friends, neighbors and even strangers in the eye more. I am listening to them when they speak. I am silently saying to myself with each interaction -- I receive your love (thank you Holly for turning me on to this greeting) and you are loved.

I know the issues are more complex than this blog post makes them. However, in the face of terror and tragedy, I choose love. It feels like the most powerful and meaningful thing I can do and it certainly can't hurt. Sometimes I try to imagine what the world would look like everyone "loved themselves and felt loved". . . . .

Over the weekend I watched NOVA: Earth from Space. All I can say is WOW! WOW! . . .  WOW! I am not sure I have ever watched a movie more mind blowing than this one. I HIGHLY recommend it. If you click on the image above you can see a trailer and if you click on this link you can actually stream the 2 hour video right to your computer for free.

I have some personal connections to the movie and perspective it shows. My father use to design circuit boards for NASA and I am pretty sure some of the satellites featured in the movie were ones he worked on.

Below is a picture that I took looking out the window of a plane as we crossed the Great Plains. It inspire the design Space Cowboy.

I must admit when the US Postal Service came out with their Earthscapes stamp collection in 2012 I had to do a double take.

The "Center-Pivot Irrigation" (pictured here) was taken by the NASA/U.S. Geological Survey Landsat 7 satellite. Is it just me or does it remind you of Space Cowboy Red/Green??

I encourage you and your family to take the time to watch the NOVA: Earth from Space episode. When you see our planet from space, suddenly the connection to all things becomes so beautiful and undeniable.