Laughter and Delight in Terrible Times

 
I went to a birthday party last Sunday. I listened to laughter, watched happy faces as friends encountered each other, enjoyed food, reveled conviviality. Occasionally, my mind wandered to scenes of cruelty, heartbreak, and tragedy that are only a glance away if I look at my phone.

For a while now--for months--I have occasionally paused in my enjoyment…