Tragedy Brings out the Best In Us

Well, it's been awhile. I guess I have been very busy, so it's been a while since my last post. But, given the events of yesterday, I am inspired to reflect and comment. I returned home yesterday after picking my kids up from school, on a beautiful spring day, to turn on the television and be greeted by horrific scenes of chaos and devastating injuries. I stood, frozen, watching in horror as the scene unfolded. We have had some awful things happen in our country lately. Shootings, sinkholes, now a bombing. The events are tragic and unfortunate, however, they seem also to give us the opportunity to show the best side of human nature in the midst of the chaos. I saw a quote, from Mr. Rogers, which I posted on my Facebook page, in which he talked about his mother telling him to watch for the "helpers" when seeing bad situations. There are always helpers there, she said, helping whomever is in trouble. That is what you need to focus on in the face of tragedy- how many people are stepping up and helping and how they outnumber the bad guys. I thought this was a wonderful point and I thought immediately of recent events and the people who went running towards the sound of gunfire or towards the sound of explosions to see what was happening and how they could help. Most people's natural instinct would be to run FROM danger, not TOWARDS it, but there are always every day heroes who defy instinct and logic and jump into the fray. Thank God for them! It is in hearing these stories of heroism that we are given hope for the future, and the reassurance that the vast majority of people on the planet are good, kind and loving people who genuinely care for their fellow man. When you see these "helpers" act during times of stress and devastation, and then witness the outpouring of love and care, in the form of actual physical assistance, financial assistance, and emotional encouragement  in the aftermath of a tragedy your faith in humanity is renewed, and you remember that the good guys outnumber the bad and that evil cannot triumph in the face of true goodness. God Bless the Helpers!