It’s a strange feeling to know that he is dead. The man who caused so much suffering, so much hatred, so much turmoil, mistrust, and grief. His life was about ending the lives of others whose views he could not understand or tolerate.

And now, Osama bin Laden’s own end has come. After a long and arduous wait, America is breathing a collective sigh of relief.

My boys are celebrating. It’s a “Black Ops” kind of day for them — hunt down the bad guy, shoot to kill, win the game.

But the game is far from won.

I am not sad that he is gone. I dreamt last night of the widows and widowers of 9/11. Of the children growing up without parents, of the mothers and fathers who lost their own, of the friends, the families, the numerous loved ones left behind to grapple with such pain and devastation. I will never claim to know the magnitude of their loss. And if today’s headline news gives them some sense of closure, then I would never begrudge them that tiny slice of peace.

But in my heart of hearts, I believe that hate begets hate. Hate and anger and bitterness is a toxin that eats away at our souls, that robs us of our sunlight, that sucks the life out of our universe.

I want my children to choose love. I want them to choose compassion. I want them to know the peace that comes from knowing their own hearts — and from choosing to humbly and respectfully co-exist with those whose views don’t necessarily line up with their own beliefs.

Today, I choose to think about the words of John Lennon and his powerful vision of a world at peace. This is the world I choose for myself, my family, my loved ones.

Nothing is impossible.

~~~

“Imagine” ~ John Lennon

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one