The Hunter Stands Alone

   Tragedy is beautiful. It is also necessary in this world. While you may think the world would be closer to perfect without tragedy, consider; it is tragedy that lets us understand we are fallen. If life were all laughter and joy we would be happy and content. We wouldn't be looking for questions or answers. Questions strip us down to "naked wretches" because we understand we don't know everything. We are at the mercy of another. Answers give us bread and meat and shoes for our feet, that we may walk.

   Tragedy produces empathy. Joy is contagious, and laughter fetching, but the man who understands is wise. The ability to care about another person is dwindling from our culture. So very much of it is self-centered. News flash: you aren't the center of the universe. While you may think this is a tragedy, think again. You now have the capacity to love more deeply and trust more fully than before. Tragedy brings people together.

   Tragedy also leaves people alone. One film we watched in class involved many deaths of animals we saw as part of a happy couple. However, the first evidence in Small Hands of a solitary life form is the line of boot tracks in the mud. The hunter is alone. While the sorrow portrayed in the film is beautiful, and the empathy reconciling, the hunter struck me. Why was he alone?