Republican lawmakers targeted by a lone gunman a little after 7 a.m. while practicing for a charity baseball game is not what you expect to see happening before your first sip of coffee on a Wednesday morning.

The gunman died in an angry attempt to express his political feelings. What drives someone to do that? A loss of balanced and rational thinking? I do wonder what his tipping point was but of course, we’ll probably never know. What we do know is the angry divide must be addressed somehow.

Respectfully, as it should be, news from the nation’s capital is not about collusion or obstruction of justice today. This morning’s events are likely a wake-up call to politicians on both sides. I can imagine the horribly frightening moments for those at the ball field this morning.

My guess is many who weren’t there are also imagining what if . . . it could have been me. With a sense of relief many of these folks are probably sharing a lot of loving thoughts with their families this afternoon, perhaps with newfound perspective for what really matters most and a desire to find a sense of balance.

While I don’t agree with much that Paul Ryan says, I do think he spoke some powerful words today, “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.” I think this applies to ALL of us, the American people.

To be fair even Donald Trump surprised me with some positive kind words today.  These words likely were written by another, but I am content that he spoke them without ad libbing. It gives me hope (even if only false hope, hope is hope).

He said, “We can all agree that we are blessed to be Americans, that our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace, and that we are strongest when we are unified and when we work together for the common good.”

Part of this balancing act requires listening and hearing one another with an open mind. In the meantime, my balancing act today involves turning off the news and getting outside to care for the livestock that depends on me and sharing love and kindness with those around me.

The American resolve reminds me of those wobble toddler toys that refuse to fall no matter how many times we push them over. Also, baby chicks – Because I’m always thinking of baby chicks. It’s a balancing act.