Souls at Rest in the New Zealand Shooting Tragedy—Prayers and the Process of Healing

At the hour when one was submitted to God, sincere souls acquiesced into praying—tragedy struck and took 50 lives in just a splash. It is so heartbreaking to even think about it, let alone see it transcending into a worldwide phenomenon as each second unfolded.

And what is left of it—families struck with unconditional pain, ones that no one ever talked about or even lit a lamp as a cushion. This is one of the darkest days for New Zealand, and most agonizing for the families that have to succumb to the reality.

A major disbelief in part of humanity—how could anyone just even think about doing this? We have always been lead into believing that joy was in submission, but what of life—the curator that is most profound, above the tides that are nearly as invincible as ourselves.

The world mourns today, and I too, there is but an inch of life left in me which will tell me that everything is real. But what is it that will define tomorrow, in the persuasion of living and coming into terms of the disaster that has outplayed nature.

It is the process of healing that will build hearts and throw the ravens unto the ashes of consummation. Someone’s father, mother—someone’s son, daughter—a friend, mentor, and hope tomorrow. But tomorrow is already defined, so today, let us hold each other’s hands and walk like we are stronger than we think we are.

It is the art in healing that will move mountains, and get us closer to the composure of our own compulsions—ones that are imperative in taking the bravest of the steps forward. And grief will pour like melted cement, roofs will leak acidic rain and food will not shower any taste—for the beauty in living will have gone.

But to you, everyone who is in pain right now—know that life will not, never will it outplay you—it is the dimmest of the days that define and paint the purest of strength that one could feel, and in getting yourself up from the spiral of dead ends that seems to be consuming you at this hour.

So get yourself up, and feel the cosmological narrative that binds everyone together—our brothers and sisters—they too are attached to us, in the most splendor ways that we just cannot see or feel. Their beautiful souls are gone, but their imprints are a treasure—no one could take that away.

There is a beautiful gift, to play their memories back and forth and realize that they too—their souls are at peace. Angelic voices at night, feeling the essence of life, and everyone who is struck with overwhelming grief—know that life will only dramatize itself. So let’s hold us together—the process of healing is as definitive as the last star which sees over us, yet we sit here, unaltered by its presence.

To everyone who lost their lives in the tragedy, may your souls rest in peace.

-Yogesh Chandra