It’s been a terrible week, full of senseless and tragic killings. A few of them happened in the United States — one of them in my home state. I can picture the spot where Philando Castile was shot; I’ve driven past it many times.

But what can I add that hasn’t already been said? I have no words to describe how heartbroken I feel for Phil, his friends, and his family — or for the police officer who shot him. And anyway, my heartbreak is useless.

I’m trying not to surrender to hopelessness, though. I’m trying to remember that the good people (whether in uniform or not) far outnumber the bad. I’m trying to believe that the week’s tragic events will somehow spur positive change. And I’m daring to hope that my fellow Americans will weigh their reaction — and that they’ll choose love, wisdom, and compassion.