"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." A quote by Fred Rogers, aka Mister Rogers.
When I was growing up, my parents always told us something similar: "There is good in every situation. Sometimes you have to dig a bit deeper and look a bit harder for it, but there will be good."
The events of this week have been mind-boggling. Every day has had an event occur which is so horrific, it has knocked me off-kilter and made me question where mankind is headed. And then I see or hear about "the helpers" and my faith is restored. I think we all could use some "helper" stories.
Monday I sat and watched the Boston Marathon bombing as it unfolded on the news. The chaos and horror before my eyes was surreal. I watched as the news camera was showing people running away from the bombed areas to safety and saw the look of panic and fear on their faces...... and I felt helpless. I live across the country from Boston, so there was nothing I could do to help at that moment.
Within seconds of seeing people fleeing the area, I then saw people running toward the injured. They were like fish trying to swim upstream as they negotiated their way through the crowds of people running away. But, by the looks on their faces, they were determined to help those who needed it so desperately. A lump developed in my throat and my heart jumped as I shouted "THERE THEY ARE! There are "The Helpers"! These "helpers" started grabbing the temporary fencing that had been used to block off the sidewalk from the runners and were flinging it aside to get to the injured people trapped underneath it. Men were taking off their shirts to use as gauze and whipping off their belts to use as tourniquets. Others were quickly carrying, or racing wheelchairs loaded with injured people to ambulances and a triage area. With little thought to their own safety, these people went back time after time to the affected area.
And just when you think the horror is over, a fertilizer plant in West, Texas explodes with enough force to register as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake and level part of a community. Scores were injured and an unknown number were killed. As my mind tried to wrap itself around this latest event, my heart leapt when I saw scores of communities from all over the state immediately send fire, police, EMT's, Careflight helicopters, and many others to assist this community. There are "the helpers"! A call went out that everyday items were needed to assist these families who had lost everything. Within a few short hours, West was inundated with every item they'd requested from people around the state who had dropped everything they were doing, hopped in their vehicles, and immediately delivered it to this devastated community. These are "the helpers".
As I sat down last night to watch the evening news, they showed a clip of the Boston Bruin's game as they were performing their opening ceremony for the first time since the bombing. The National Anthem was being performed and all of the fans, players, and coaches were singing their hearts out. It was one of the most powerful and patriotic versions I have ever heard. If you haven't heard it, or you've only heard a small clip, then here is a link to the posting on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzMsagY7oRs. They too are "the helpers".
If you know of more "Helper" stories, share them. Help others find the good. We all need help sometimes finding "the good" and "the helpers". By sharing more of the good, you then become one of "the helpers", and we can all use some good.
by: Christie Bielss
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