Sad Weekend

Hello Everyone:

Not much to be happy about this weekend. The barbarians have struck again: in Beirut, Lebanon and once again in Paris, France. It's a stuck needle-humans with an agenda to kill and maim as many people as possible all in the name of some version of G-d. It's sickening to even think about it but this is the world we live in. There doesn't seem to be an end to it. Maybe it's what the host of the lunch I attended said, it's Messanic times. The non-believer in me says why are you still clinging to this idea?  No Messaia would want to appear in this world. Look the mess it is. People going about there business or out on a Friday evening are suddenly cut down because they believe in the wrong version of a Higher Power. Is it any wonder why more people are identifying as non-believers?  Why would any one want to believe in a faith that can be used to for purposes of sheer evil?  I know for some, religion gives meaning and offers something positive in their lives. However, when crap like this happens, it make me question why bother to begin with. Violence in the name of religion is nothing new. Come Monday, we'll all go back to our lives as if nothing happened.  It sounds cynical but it's true. Messianic times, right.  Sorry to sound like such pill but this is what I think. So far the only happy news over the weekend was the birth of a friend's baby boy. Hope for the future.  There's always hope. Lately, hope seems to be non-existent for me and maybe I can find a way to make it exist. I wouldn't know where to start. That's the hard part-finding and clinging on to a shred of hope. It's out there waiting for me.