The world was shocked last week when 28 people - 20 of them young students - were killed by a lone gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Young lives cut too short devastated not only the victims' families, but the entire nation of the United States, and the world.
Already, fingers of blame are being pointed - at the gun laws in the United States, at the media, at the fact that Christian prayers are not allowed in public schools.... the list is getting longer every day.
What the reasoning was behind this shooting - if, in fact, there was any - is something we will never know, for the gunman took his own life before he could be questioned.
American President Barack Obama has stated that in order for tragedies like this to end, "we must change."
"Change what?" is the question that remains.
Will it be one single thing? I doubt it. Something as horrible as this does not happen for a single, simple reason. When the answer comes to light, if it ever does, it will be complicated, complex. Pointing a finger at a single thing will not cover it.
Until that answer comes to light, there is little the world can do, except for this: love a little bit more.
It makes the world go round. It's all you need. It's a many splendoured thing.
Not just romantic love - all love. For your parents, your brothers and sisters, your neigbours and friends. Your children.
What do we need when something terrible like this happens?
We need love.
Not vengeance. Not hate. Not an emphasis on our differences, or a religious debate.
Love.
Let's focus on that this Christmas.
