This moving first person account from the shepherd of Tucson has just been posted online. A sample: 

I experienced throughout that awful week of suffering a people fervent in prayer, a people caring and concerned for one another, a people doing countless acts of kindness to ease the pain and soften the grief.

From all around the country people of all ages sent cards, drawings, gifts to share with those who lost loved ones. Memorials sprouted up in front of the hospital, at Gabby Giffords’ office, at the scene of the shooting.

Religious leaders of all faiths came together, to pray and to comfort the community. Their actions bore witness to the true meaning of Christian Unity Week that we were celebrating during those days of healing.

In front of the Safeway where the shooting happened, in the presence of many employees who witnessed this tragedy, religious leaders prayed and sprinkled holy water to cleanse and reverence this place violated by an act of shocking violence.

In the midst of so much pain, I felt our community coming together and that our whole nation was with us, caring for us, wanting to heal our hurt.

Tim Reidy