Why Does Someone Have to Die?

   Officer Scott Patrick of the Mendota Heights police department was shot and killed during a traffic stop last week. I didn't know him, but I feel sort of a kinship with him. We are about the same age and have been working our respective jobs for about the same amount of time. We are both in public service positions. He watched after other people's safety. I look after their health.
  Our paths never crossed as far as I know. They could have. Last winter, when an armed man was robbing pharmacies near my store, he could very well have been one of the police officers that drove around when security in the area was increased. He could have been standing watch over one of my colleagues and their staff.
   I've been reading articles and looking at pictures. People have left flowers, candles, notes and American flags at the place where he was shot. People have come to pay respect with bowed heads. Front door and porch lights are being left on in his honor. My friend, Mandy, changed her Facebook picture to one of the state of Minnesota in blue with a black stripe around the middle. A candlelight vigil was held.
  Many churches in the area had messages on condolence on them. Flags have been flying at half staff all week.
  The visitation was held yesterday. C drove through the area on his way home from work. Crowds of people had come to pay respect. The Patriot Guard Riders were standing vigil on the corners near the church.
   I looked at all the pictures and read all the stories about people coming together. People donating money. People with their arms around each other. People there to let the family know that they care. People there to show the officers left behind that we appreciate what they do and the chances they take.
  One question came into my head. Why does someone have to die to make us all come together? Why does the bridge have to collapse, the buildings have to tumble before we reach out?
  We are really good at rallying around each other during hard times. When the tornadoes swirl, when hurricanes pour water over the land, we all pitching to help. We donate money. We donate time. We send messages of sympathy and support.
  The problem is once the waters recede, once the mess is mostly cleaned up we tend to go back to business as usual. We pick up where we left off.
  Could someone please explain this to me, because I just don't understand. I don't understand how people came come together and mourn after a mass shooting and then go back bickering.
  I have memories of sense of community. A sense of people caring about each other. A sense of pride in the place where we live. Am I just imagining this or was it a reality at some point in time?
  Why can't we, once the shock has worn off and the funeral is over, hold onto that sense of community that we have right now? Why can't look past race, income level, political views and church membership and see a human being? Someone who is not that much different than us. Is that asking too much?
  Officer Patrick's funeral started 45 minutes ago. In less than an hour bells will be rung and people will line the route to the cemetery. A helicopter will flyover his burial site. A police dispatcher will broadcast a Last Call for Officer Patrick. All of this done to remember him and his service.
   Once the sounds for the bells have faded, once everyone has gone home, what will we do? While all of the ceremony and the memorials are good, there is something better. Something that will last longer than the flowers and candles. Let's all hang onto the sense of community we felt. We shouldn't wait for the next catastrophe. Let's do it now.