The "Path"

The "call" came at 805am. "He's in ICU and might not make it." said the voice.  "How , why- what happened?" "He was with his friends and a rival gang opened fire on them- shot him five times- very serious"

As someone who has an extended family member in one of the local trauma centers recovering from being shot over the last two weeks in the city violence, I can say with clear conscience that it is not the guns that did it rather his failed lifestyle and upbringing.   HE chose a life of Gangs. You can say that we (his family ) collectively failed him.  While I've known him for only half of his short life on this planet- many who knew him before that - some of the same who now lament at the ICU at his state of being- scratch their heads at how he got there. In their heart of hearts THEY know.  The gang life is path in life that finishes in one of two endings- dead or in jail. 

 He got a second chance- (I'd argue a third chance) - if he doesn't see it , he'll result as one of these bylines in the local rag and a red blood stain on the pavement.  It won't have been the gun that caused his demise - it will have been the path he chose.  I close this with a prayer that he is able to see how his life could have ended.  The hope is that he will alter the course of his path so that we don't end up at this juncture again-possibly with a more fatal outcome. 

In the summer of 2013- It is a summer of violence. Regardless of how much regulation politicians try to instill- the outcome is fairly predictable.  Address the issue of broken families and declining family values and this story will continue to be told- again and again.   

This edition- came very close to home.