Remembering Paris

For each of us…..ordinary people of the world our Friday 13 November 2015 began as any other typical day. The day might have included routines such as breakfast, work, exercise, school or church. For native Parisians or tourists to the beautiful country of France and its city of Paris......perhaps the day included a trip to one of its most beautiful attractions: the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, The Musée d'Orsay or Arc de Triomphe. For many their evening plans included dinner a local restaurant or a drink with friends in a bar. For others the opportunity to take in a concert at Bataclan Hall to see an American band. It was an ordinary good Friday. And then like a thief in the night death came to over 125 people and their lives and those who loved them have forever been changed.

Much like the devastating day 11 Sept 2001 in New York City, the Pentagon in our nation's capital of Washington D.C and Pennsylvania……..Paris will be forever changed. We pause to honor, remember and celebrate the lives of all those who have been so senselessly and tragically taken from us. We reignite the passion to rid our world of terror and pray for its victims.

On Saturday 14 November 2015 and the days that follow Parisians and all those around the world in solidarity rise from the sadness and its dust of terror, pain and anger of loss. We rise again and persevere and prove that love wins. We remind the world that each and every person that died in these senseless acts of terror individually and universally light a luminous candle that will remain where their beautiful souls have passed.

Priez pour tous ceux qui ont été tués à Paris, priez pour le peuple de Paris, priez pour le peuple de France, et ensuite priez pour une cessation de ces actes de violence.

Pray for all those who were killed in Paris, pray for the people of Paris, pray for the people of France, and then pray for an end to such acts of violence.