A Heavy Heart in a Shaken Community
There are days when the weight of the world feels palpable, settling in your chest like an unmovable stone. Today is one of those days. My heart feels SO heavy hearing about the shooting at Old Dominion University here in Norfolk. There's a particular kind of chill that runs down your spine when tragedy unfolds not on a distant news channel, but in the very streets you walk, near the places you know. Something about it being so close to home just shakes you a little differently.
The familiar backdrop of a local university campus, a place of learning, growth, and aspiration, is suddenly transformed into a scene of chaos and fear. The shockwave doesn't just impact those directly involved; it radiates outwards, a tremor felt by the entire community. We are all connected, and a wound to one part of our shared home is a wound to all.
The Unseen Ripples of Trauma 🌊
In these immediate moments, my thoughts, like so many others, are a torrent of empathy for every single person touched by this horrific event. I keep thinking about the families whose world tilted on its axis with a single phone call. The friends whose text messages suddenly went unanswered. The classmates who shared a lecture just hours before, and the professors whose primary concern is always the safety and well-being of their students.
Think of the ones who were there, who heard the sounds, who saw the unimaginable, who ran for their lives. The ones who got the phone calls, their hearts stopping as they heard the news. The ones still waiting for answers, suspended in a state of agonizing uncertainty. None of them could have imagined that a normal day would curdle into something so frightening and heartbreaking. This is the ripple effect of violence—it doesn't just harm bodies; it fractures peace, shatters our sense of security, and leaves behind an invisible wake of trauma that can take years to heal.
When Words Feel Small...
In the face of such profound loss and fear, this is the kind of moment where words feel small. SO small. What can you possibly say that could measure up to the magnitude of the pain? How can language possibly contain the grief of a parent, the terror of a student, or the sorrow of a community? Platitudes ring hollow, and explanations feel insulting. The silence that follows a tragedy is often filled with the things we cannot articulate—the collective gasp, the shared ache, the profound sense of 'why?'
And yet, silence is not the only answer. While our words may feel inadequate, our presence, our intention, and our collective energy are not. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is simply bear witness to the pain, to hold space for the grieving, and to refuse to look away.
A Call for Collective Healing 🙏
So today, I am doing what I know how to do. I am turning to the tools of the heart. I am sending love. I am sending Reiki. I am praying for peace to move through that campus, through those hospital rooms, through EVERY heart that is shaken by what happened today. It's a recognition that in the face of immense darkness, we must consciously and actively generate light.
Join in Sending Light ✨
If you’re someone who believes in prayer, in light, in healing energy, please send it with me. It doesn't matter what you call it or how you practice it. Take a moment right now. Close your eyes. Picture the ODU campus, the city of Norfolk, and all affected. Envision it being surrounded by a gentle, powerful, and healing light. Let's create a wave of compassion so strong it can be felt by those who need it most. Our collective intention is a powerful force.
Holding the ODU Community in Prayer and Intention
Let us hold specific intentions for all those affected:
- 🕊️ For the Life Lost: May God and the universe lovingly receive the soul of the one whose life was taken today. May their spirit be surrounded by infinite light and eternal peace, free from all pain and fear. May their memory be a blessing that inspires love.
- 🛡️ For First Responders: May a shield of protection be placed around the law enforcement officers, paramedics, and first responders who answered the call today. May they be granted strength to process what they witnessed, wisdom in the coming days, and profound peace in their own hearts and homes.
- ❤️🩹 For the Injured: May healing energy surround every person who was injured. May it flow through their bodies, mending what is broken. May it soothe their minds and spirits, and may they be supported by the best medical care and the deepest love.
- 🫂 For the Grieving: May comfort wrap around every grieving heart like the warmest blanket. For the families and friends, may they feel the presence of love and support even in the middle of this unimaginable nightmare. May they be given the space and time they need to mourn.
- 🏫 For the Students & Faculty: May the students, faculty, and staff who experienced this trauma feel supported, seen, and held by their community. May their fear be replaced with a sense of safety over time, and may they find the resources they need to navigate the difficult path of healing.
- 🌍 For Our World: And may a profound healing reach even the most broken places in the human heart, so that this kind of senseless pain stops repeating itself. May we find a way to build a world where compassion drowns out hatred and peace is our reality.
Navigating the Aftermath: Steps Toward Healing
Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or deeply sad is a normal reaction to an abnormal event. The trauma is real, even for those who witnessed it from afar. It's crucial to be gentle with ourselves and each other as we process this.
Resources & Self-Care in Times of Crisis
- Acknowledge Your Feelings: Don't dismiss your emotions. It's okay to be angry, scared, or heartbroken. Allow yourself to feel without judgment. Talk about it with trusted friends or family.
- Limit Media Exposure: While it's natural to want information, constant exposure to news coverage and graphic details can re-traumatize you. Set boundaries. Check for updates once or twice a day from reliable sources, then step away.
- Seek Professional Support: There is immense strength in asking for help. Universities have counseling centers for students and staff. Community mental health resources and national hotlines (like the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990) are available.
- Connect with Community: Attend vigils, check in on your neighbors, and create spaces to talk and grieve together. Healing often happens in connection, reminding us that we are not alone in our sorrow.
- Take Action: For some, healing comes from action. This could mean donating blood, contributing to victim funds, or getting involved with organizations working to prevent gun violence. Channeling grief into purposeful action can be a powerful antidote to helplessness.
No student should EVER have to run for their life at school. No professor should have to barricade a door. And NO parent should ever have to worry about whether their child will come home from class. 💔 This is a fundamental truth that we must never accept as negotiable.
"Love is still stronger than the darkness."
This is more than a hopeful phrase; it is a call to action. It is a reminder that in our darkest hours, the human capacity for love, compassion, and resilience is our greatest strength. We must hold onto it, cultivate it, and share it relentlessly. Today, we hold the entire ODU community in our hearts, in our prayers, and in the light. May they feel our collective embrace, and may we all work towards a day when no other community has to endure this pain.