Manchester, May 22, 2017, will forever be a day of infamy.

Another one.

The terrible scenes, the slaughter, the loss, the life changing injuries, the shock, the tragedy, the whole ghastly episode will leave its scars for decades to come.

As our hearts go out to those in grief and pain, our nation is beginning to attempt to come to terms with and find out what happened at the end of Monday night's concert at the Manchester Arena.

Who was it?

How did it happen?

Was someone radicalised?

Or mentally ill?

Who's responsible?

What should we do next?

But understanding why this has happened is no easy task.

It is incomprehensible to us why someone might kill themselves in order to kill the defenceless.

It passes our understanding. And words fail us.

We look for answers, we try to rationalise the atrocious, we try to work it out, we look to celebrities who pay tribute, we even attempt to apportion blame, we ask questions and listen to our leaders, we search for reassurance, we might turn to God, we wonder why and how and what, but there's no denying that there will be more questions unanswered than answered.

It is impossible for us to really understand the mentality of the suicide bomber.

What it is that possesses someone to wreak havoc and in the process expend their own life is counter to all we believe about the sanctity of life itself.

And once the shock has subsided it is also natural for us to be angry.

Angry at the person who did this, angry that lives have been lost in such an horrific way.

Theresa May reminded us yesterday that as we go through these feelings of anger and outrage, shock and sadness, our way of life will prevail.

She said: 'Let us remember those who died and let us celebrate those who helped – safe in the knowledge that the terrorists will never win and our values, our country, and our way of life will always prevail.'

This is true and I agree with her but it isn't always easy for us to carry on.

We may be tempted to be wary of crowds and distrustful of others as a result.

We may be tempted to react with aggression or anger ourselves.

We may be tempted to be not quite so tolerant of others.

We may be tempted to act unwisely and without reflection.

We may be tempted to apportion blame in haste.

We may be tempted to change.

But I hope Britain doesn't change.

I hope we do not dishonour ourselves in this hour of test and trial.

I hope our country overcomes its problems and fears, I hope, as we respond to terror, that Manchester, May 22, 2017 brings out the best in us – in fact it is already doing so.

So let us take heart.

In those awful moments of Monday night there were stories of great humanity and courage as people helped their fellow man in the face of inhumanity and cowardice.

Paramedics and members of the emergency rushed to the scene to do their bit, people offered their homes, and strangers offered comfort to strangers. And it is in these actions that lies hope.

History and common sense tells me that terrorism, in whatever form and in whatever capacity, even when the odds are overwhelming, has never yet destroyed our ability and power to pull together in its wake.

And it is that power to pull together, to share concern, to recognise our neighbour in distress, to empathise and assist, to continue to hope, to ultimately, express love and compassion for one another, that terrorism and horror and violence is powerless to change.