I'm looking through a book I read in the past: American Terrorist: Timothy McVeigh & the Oklahoma City Bombing by Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck. It's a fascinating book in which McVeigh himself talks about the things that formed him and the thoughts behind his actions.

One of the first thing he tells the authors is that "if he seemed devoid of feelings and sensitivity, that was because he was a soldier, a man who was used to carrying out missions that brought pain to others."

Having spent time in the company of soldiers, I find this an odd statement. Seldom do I see soldiers who have killed or seen another killed reacting by shutting off their feelings, and I suspect that McVeigh was no different. He certainly had feelings. Rage against the world he saw as his oppressor. Denial that the pain he would inflict on the victims of his bomb was anything other than justified, and I think that even extended to the children whom I'm certain he knew were within the building. Justified by saying it was retribution for Ruby Ridge and Waco, which I see only as an excuse. Depressed at being a loser and wanting to go out in a blaze of glory with an execution at the hands of the government. He as much as said that he considered his execution a suicide. If not suicide by cop, then suicide by the American judicial system. How convenient, but what it showed was that he was too much of a coward to even take his own life.

Maybe that sounds devoid of feelings and sensitivity as well. But I cannot help rebelling against the idea that if life is giving you lemons, you should shove them in another person's face rather than figuring out that you can make lemonade. Perhaps that's why my novels feature a crime-fighting team.

There is always that one thing that you can do, no matter what your station in life. You never know how that little thing might affect the rest of a person's existence. In my case, it was a huge orange given to me by my third grade teacher, Miss Hubbard. That one simple act taught me that others cared and valued even a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks. It has sustained me through all the years that have passed since.

So, go do something today, even if it's just to smile at a stranger. You never know. That smile might just be the thing that keeps them from taking that fatal step off a cliff, whether that's literally or figuratively. Even better, it costs you nothing.