One good, kindly man stopped our world. Our whole world. Stopped us. Oh, not altogether, of course. Trains moved. Planes flew. Teachers taught. We wept. Dried our tears. Then went about our tasks. Prayed.

Yes, we remembered how it had been with Kennedy. The violence tore our nation apart. Tore us apart with disbelief. Violence. A bullet. Planned and executed. Not in our nation. Not at that time. Venezuela, or Haiti, or Belfast. Not here. Yes, here.

But with Tim, it was different. The violence came from within. He was one of us, and his death as ordinary as any we will read about in tomorrow’s newspaper. Yet, he was one of us, part of our daily lives, especially our Sunday mornings, because he lived at one with the men and women of the neighborhoods. No stretch limos, or three grand homes in as many states. He could pack his pick-up truck with his son’s graduation presents, then drive to Washington, to prepare for “Meet the Press.” Humility. Service. Grinning all the way. Piece of cake.

Readers keep repeating the same reactions, such as one lovely woman, named Mickey:

Hi, Ruth! Hope all is well in your world!

I am SO saddened by Tim Russert’s death...I watched him faithfully every Sunday for years ...what an ambassador for the “common” American people he was!!!

My prayer is that those he impacted will carry on his legacy...
pride in one’s roots, honesty, integrity, hard work, eternal optimism, loyalty, humor, family, and most of all, FAITH..
faith in our country, our communities, our friends, our families, and most of all, in God!!!!!

What an impact he has made...and in this most important time, he brings us back to our roots! That which matters most. May his spirit and lessons stay with us always!

Take good care, my friend! Stay well and stay writing! And do pray for the people of Iowa (especially, Cedar Rapids, our home town!)

Mickey

Of course, we are all praying for the suffering, distraught flood victims, including those in Cedar Rapids, for we are all one family. Tim’s death taught us that.

Took us by surprise, his death, but more than that, our reaction to it, his goodness resonating within us, as individuals and as a people. We didn’t know we were that good, sufficiently good to sustain that spirit of unity and compassion, day following day, night following night. We didn’t want to lose touch with him who revealed our better selves beneath our facade of busyness and self-absorption and plans for tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, most of which appear like evaporating cotton candy today.

And, so, we must begin again to live, to look around us with new eyes, new hearts, determined to live more completely, lovingly, joyfully, with the glass always half-full.A toast to you, dear Tim, and to your lovely wife and loyal son!

Peace and love forever.

Dearest Lord, it was Faith that formed the unyielding character, which made possible Tim’s life of love and service, shot through with laughter, and compassionate awareness of the needs of those on the other side of the TV microphone.

Please give us the grace to plant our respective vineyards with the same seeds, yielding the same fruits. Amen. Alleluia!

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