It's hard to imagine bad things happening to people like this. The Behrmans contradict the jeremiads about the erosion of the American family. Eric and Marilyn have a rock-solid, supportive marriage, and their children are their greatest pride. This is a family that works on 4-H projects together, goes to church together, attends school games together. That's an impossible task.
Bad things happen to good people, often with total disregard for cause and effect.
No amount of good deeds or positive thoughts can immunize those we love against experiencing evil. Just as certainly as we rejoice in the happiness of others, we suffer because others are suffering, because terrible deeds are perpetrated in our world. Last Friday, in an ironic coincidence, an editor posted a message to the college and university editors' mailing list. But building bunkers is not the answer. Nor is indifference, cynicism, or rose-colored glasses.