Two events tied together by time and tragedy

This Father’s Day, like all such days, is a concoction of happiness and warm memories mixed with extreme sadness, anger and deep hurt. Bookend events —360 days apart and separated by almost 400 miles — tell the story.

One was in a sacred place that was thought to be safe. The other was thought safe, though not sacred. Both are joined now in the annals of searing events that shook us to our core. Both brought about a modicum of change.

While Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, is commemorating the one-year anniversary of the slaying of its pastor and eight others, Dylann Roof sits behind bars. Everyone can remember the outstanding example of Christian forgiveness shown him by the family members of those he killed June 17 last year. Now, Roof is awaiting a trial that could end with a sentence of death. The Confederate flag, long held dear in the Palmetto State, was brought down, not because of “have to” but “want to.”

In Orlando, Florida, families of 49 shooting victims are beginning to bury their dead. Fathers and mothers, instead of celebrating Father’s Day, are in mourning because their world has been turned inside out. Law enforcement is still investigating in an attempt to understand the motivation behind Omar Mateen’s attack at the Pulse nightclub. Was it radical Islamist rage inspired by ISIS? Was Mateen homophobic, or was he just a garden-variety nut case seeking vindication for his screwed-up life? We’ll never know. The outpouring of support for the LBGTQ community has come from unexpected places, and many are starting to understand some of the issues that community faces.

What these two events show us on this Father’s Day is that we should take every opportunity to show our loved ones, no matter their orientation or color, how much they are loved. There are no guaranteed tomorrows.

This story was originally published June 18, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Two events tied together by time and tragedy."