It was a day celebrating freedom, as some 27,000 runners and countless spectators gathered in Bean Town.

There were cheers and joy as runners crossed the finish line. Then two bombs exploded and everything changed. Cheers turned to screams and joy to terror.

The bombing at the 117th Boston Marathon brought to light, once again, the evil present in this world. To solely focus there, however, is to allow fear to hold us captive and hope to flee away along with any sense of security.

We must focus on what happened after the explosions. People no longer racing to the finish raced to help the wounded. People worked together to care for and comfort the injured. In the days that followed, various law enforcement agencies worked together to track down and capture the culprits.

Two young men wreaked carnage on the innocent, but when the smoke cleared countless Good Samaritans stood tall.

Therein is the lesson. No matter how great an evil among us, a greater good ultimately will triumph over it. And when disaster strikes, we are no longer strangers but neighbors — willing to help one another — loving “our neighbor” as ourselves.

Also, at times like these we tend to look to God who “is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) for only in Him are we free from fear. “Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way…” (Psalm 46:1). Whatever comes, in the end, good and God will triumph.

Bonnie Merrill, Jefferson