Yesterday, at Virginia Tech, two shootings claimed the lives of at least 33 people and wounded 29 others. A lone gunman committed this bloody massacre, and then in conclusion, took his own life.

Nothing about these situations is ever easy, and the act of reflection is no different; such an overwhelming loss and waste — so many lives, dreams and loved ones thrown to the wind and destroyed. Even now, I’m searching for some didactic content in so staggering a tragedy, but I’m nearly at a loss.

Let us take pause and remember. Let us put our differences and disagreements aside if just for now, and let us reflect as human beings on this horrific loss.

We can hope for no correction of this mistake. No justice exists here, not for those seeking closure, purpose or sense in the senseless. Events such as these remind us that the Universe, whether ruled by its own whims or the God of Job, is capable of reaping a horrible price. Like Job, the innocent cannot repent; we cannot frame our anguish in any meaningful light, and though our tears fall with great thoughtfulness they amount to no more than water.

For us, in this far from perfect world, we see our own destruction in this. That annihilation will come for us all is not at question, but merely the time, place and reason. Despite our cries for providence, the unfortunate realization in situations as these is that it can come anywhere, at anytime and for no reason at all.

Perhaps in this, we can view each other as more human. That life be so fickle in quality and quantity serves only to increase its value, and we would be wise to internalize this. If horrors as this can serve any purpose, let it be to remind us that despite our disagreements and failures to see eye-to-eye, we all want the same things — prosperity, social stability, justice and the love of those dear to us.

From all that divides us, let us take rest if but for a day. Let us be reminded that we are all vulnerable, mortal creatures for whom the question of existence tomorrow is open in nature. In this realization, let us draw together and take stock of what matters, and who we are.

How long will it be this time before triviality swallows our lives again? When will our simple, mundane problems amplify themselves to epic proportions once more? When will we allow ourselves to lose focus and perspective? Will it take another sobering tragedy as this to shake us from our drunken stupor?

Love life. Love each other. Remember the big picture and live for great things. As the Roman philosopher Seneca most aptly put it:

“… This space that has been granted to us rushes by so speedily and so swiftly that all, save a very few, find life at an end just when they are getting ready to live … So it is — the life we receive is not short, but we make it so, nor do we have any lack of it, but are wasteful of it.”

I think I speak for all of us when I express sympathy and condolences for the victims, the victims’ families and Virginia Tech.

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