A Past Life Connection?

[hydrolad]

Recently in Amarillo, Texas a 68 year old Grand-Mother was shot dead trying to defend her Grand-Children from an armed kidnapper who had tried the same thing earlier, and was later shot dead by the police; so by trying to defend her Grand-Daughter and subsequently shot for it, she gave the little 12 years old girl time to escape the kidnapper and she lived.

So here we have a brave Grand-Mother who is dead, a deranged kidnapper who is dead, and a very frightened and scared child who is alive, now IMHO, I just have too much Public Safety work in me to find any sympathy for the dead kidnapper, but loads of sympathy for the victims in this crime.

Now in relation to Reincarnation, talk about the potential irony here, one good person dead, one bad person dead and one child victim alive, now in my way of thinking, these people must of had a PL connection that led up to this day in time, two people victimized by another person, and the personal bravery shown by one of the victims towards the other victim.

Now I just have too much respect for life to ever hurt someone like this, fearing the consequences in a future life, but also with no apologies to anyone, my Christian upbringing makes me (even to this day) too scared of God's punishment to ever hurt another, this concept even encompasses animals as well (unless I'm defending myself!).

Sorry for the long post, but I was profoundly touched by this story for some reason, so any thoughts or comments on this story?

 

[Tinkerman]

Hello Hydrolad, Yes it is a sad, sad story. And one could certainly imagine all sorts of tangled connections each may have had with the other in past lives. Such major life events make me think of these connections too... and certainly with my past public safety work also. I sometimes wonder if watching all of those life events, and intervening in many, if I too were not connected in some cosmic way. I believe all things have a grand purpose...and I also totally believe that there is no way we can even begin to understand or comprehend the greatness, magnitude, expanse of the Great Creator. So, how they are all connected is fathomless to me. Yet part of our life-lessons are to observe and contemplate the realities that these tragedies have in our lives. Certainly our anger, our sadness, and our empathy should parlay into some meaning for us... it should take our journey deeper and deeper into the mystery. I once held a woman who had been stabbed moments before my arrival. As I struggled to suppress the bleeding, our eyes met in a deep deep way, at first her gaze was of panic, but then it seemed to fade into an acceptance, a knowing. And she simply faded away in my bloodied arms. My thoughts for the first few moments were stunned disbelief, but it turned into something much deeper as I quietly wished her well and apologized for the violence, and apologized for not being there a few simple moments earlier. The whole event took minutes, yet twenty years later I still see her eyes, as real today as they were then. I still smell the blood, pungent...metallic...carnal and caustic. What were the lessons for me? Why me, out of hundreds of officers, why was I the one to hold her and share her death? Yup, there is purpose in it all. And I believe it is too vast and infinite to comprehend completely. Actually acceptance of that fact is a milestone. Was there a past life connection? I'm guessing so...there were too many other synchronous details.


I went on in my career as a police officer to see death in too many situations, and never were any of them easy. But I never let a one slip past without acknowledging the magnitude and the solemnity. I was there for a purpose. What it was, I'm still searching for. I would offer this to you and any one else that sees death, cruelty and dispare... we are powerful beings with the ability to offer our thoughts/prayers...with the ability to invoke the Creation in these times and circumstances... do it. Pray for the child, the grandmother, the felon... offer your love and compassion to each of them in a silent yet cosmic way. It will be heard, if nothing else it will be heard by your own soul and that is healing!


Sorry for the long reply...it struck a familiar chord.


Be well, and thank you for your post.


Tinkerman

 

[hydrolad]

Thanks Tinkerman for the kind words, I feel better already, as you said in your post, perhaps there was a reason why this had to happen and something like this makes me believe more and more in the concept of some type of Karma.


While in my career in the FD, I was often on a Rescue car, and quite often I would arrive on the scene too late, as the patient had just expired, and even though I was beholden to work a "Code", I often wondered if I could have driven faster, or perhaps that their dying was just meant to be, now every call didn't affect me, but only the really memorable ones, where the situation stands out.


We on the FD had a great deal of respect for the PD/SO/HP, as they provided protection as we attended to our duties, and I for one reciprocated by often pulling over in front of an officer (but far enough ahead!), who had pulled someone over, so the civilian and the officer could see our Rescue unit, and one officer even told me much he appreciated that, and we often met them on duty, eating with them, and even developing a friendship off duty.


Thank you very much.:clapping:

 

[Nightrain]

Hi Hydroload!


Like Tinkerman, I've had many occasions to reflect on the cause and effect of certain violent decisions; and the issue of karma has often entered into the equation -- not only the karma of others that may have brought this about, but my own karma as well. I know that the wheel of fate is continuously turning, and that the only way to stop it is to cease being a part of it. But the spiritual practice of complete non-violence and turning the other cheek still seems wrong to me.


I know that every violent act, even in self-defense has far-reaching effects on the lives of many more people than the ones directly involved -- the friends, family and associates of each individual. But, I have, nonetheless, always advocated showing a strong defensive position, which can often lead to violence; because standing firm with a proverbial unloaded gun can only make things worse. And when lives are at stake, I feel it is one's duty to protect others; so turning the other cheek is not a viable alternative. I've learned early on, that one must be willing to carry through with retaliation in order for others to survive.


Yet, I also know that I will have to pay for doing my duty in this world, as well as in the next. But, like Arjuna the hero of the Bhagavad Gita, I must defend my right to survive along with others who may depend upon me. Sometimes, we just have to do the right thing, even at the risk of facing the same enemy in the next life.


I don't believe that all acts are caused by past life issues, however. Sometimes, our fellow souls can turn on us for no reason at all. All things do seem to have a beginning which starts the wheel of fate to turn. I believe we must also realize that all our souls will continue to survive, including those we may have failed to save in this life. But, to stand around doing nothing is the greatest mistake.


Of course, the Amarillo grandmother in this case was unable to stop the kidnapper, and she did the only thing she could do. If she had been able to kill the kidnapper, herself; the police would not have had to perform the act for her, and she would still be alive. Furthermore, the lives of far fewer people would have been affected. So, the question is, is it better to kill in defense of oneself and others, or to stand aside and allow our loved ones to be taken? Either way, there are karmic issues that have to be addressed, eventually.