Poignancy … The Burden of Maintaining a Legacy –

Today began my typical Sunday morning with sleeping in a bit, having an extra latte and taking the hour and a half to watch CBS Sunday Morning, but as opposed to the usual segments and commentary, this morning’s programming was devoted entirely to the Kennedy legacy, after having marked the 50th Anniversary of the assassination.

Sitting on the sofa, there were at least a dozen moments I had to gulp hard as I fought back tears of compassion … the sudden and tragic loss of an inspiring young president flanked by his beautiful, sophisticated wife and two adorable children. They represented a youth and vitality that was the burgeoning America of the early sixties, when armed with the power of conviction we stood in the face of foreign aggression and successfully stared it down while American industry, manufacturing and housing took off like wildfire as it spread from metropolitan areas to cities and towns across the country. This was the decade that gave rise to the only real serious talks about equality since Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, and the concept of giving back was born in the hearts and minds of those who dared to think beyond their own immediate environment to envision a world uplifted through the tireless efforts of those dedicated to selfless service to people in need.

America was a young nation led by an exuberant young visionary who dared to dream big, and in the span of a few seconds, that youthful idealism was permanently laid to rest with the violent crack of three shots fired into the Presidential motorcade. Watching the news reals this morning, it still seemed more surreal than real as I saw the beautiful face of a devoted wife and mother turn to stone with an undeniable sadness permeating her features in all the photographs captured in the weeks following the tragedy, and I am reminded while some are born to greatness, others are unwittingly called to exemplify it. Although I was only six at the time, my ability to observe and feel for the human condition was amplified during that time, which as a matter of consequence greatly impacted my life from that point moving forward. I came to understand at a very young age that no one was really safe from potential hurt and pain, as even those with power and prestige, wealth and privilege, beauty and grace could be stricken down in the flash of an instant, and as such it is fate who gets to pick and choose who is taken and who is spared. Thus all any of us can do is try to live the life we think is best and never forget to thank God for His infinite wisdom and grace even when we fail to comprehend the delicate balance that holds it all together.