The transition between Yimei Simcha to Yimei Ta'anis

Doesn't it seem that prior to or after any joyous occasion a somber day follows? I mean after Rosh Hashanah is Tzom Gedalya, Purim has Taanis Ester; Pesach has Sefira, Shavous and the Three Weeks. Which brings me to Chanukah and Asara B'teves (next Wednesday). While some feel this is the Jewish version of the south beach/Adkins diet- overindulge then starve yourself, I feel there is a deeper message.(shocker, right?) Many Rabbis have written on this topic and IY"H my pen should just flush out a new theme. After contemplating the senseless tragedies and heinous shootings this past week in Colorado and Nebraska , I began to wonder what sets these seemingly normal, albeit a little awkward, people off. The common thread connecting the two stories seems to be that both killers lacked a will to live. One was fired from his job and dumped from his girlfriend; the other's religious institution closed its doors on him. As human beings we have some innate drives. Deep, buried in the subconscious there are things we all need (while an Xbox is cool, it doesn't make the list). One of those yearnings is a sense of purpose, community and continuity. We all need to feel we are accomplishing something; we have peers and family, and steering towards a goal. Sadly, those killers lacked these three dimensions. Judaism, however, provides all three to us. We are doing mitzvos. We are Klal Yisroel. We will earn Olam Haba. Some days are sad, some are happy, but that isn't the point. Through the cyclical calendar of Judaism Hashem is telling us what is important in life. Is being happy important, yes. But, it isn't our full goal in life. Just as eating hundreds of jelly doughnuts and latkas feels good, being happy isn't our only purpose on this earth. Hashem puts us on the earth to do Mitzvos (of which most of them do make us happy). He creates in us an innate yearning for purpose and continuity. Just as we look ahead to the festive days, so too we look to the sad days. The key is that we do it together as a community. When Hashem told Adam "Lo tov bara es Hadam Levado" it isn't good for man to be alone, He wasn't just talking about a wife, Hashem realized the requirement man has for friends, peers, family and community. The Gemara says that if you have a conflict in schedule between a wedding and a funeral you should choose the funeral. Why is that? One answer, we could now suggest is that since everyone else will probably choose the wedding, it is incumbent upon you to provide the lonely mourner a sense of community, a shoulder to cry on. Therefore let us all try to reach out to all Jews and provide them the community and camaraderie we often cherish. The fast is Wednesday. It starts at 5:45 and ends at 5:07. Eating and drinking are prohibited, all other activities are allowed. Brushing teeth and mouthwash is ok, just don't swallow. Let us all partake in the sad, like we partake in the good. Let us do it together.