Post Boston: "Look for the Helpers"

 

Its probably one of the few pitfalls to being well-traveled is when tragedy strikes, odds are you know someone that's there.  I suppose its also true for many people as our families become more scattered.  Its probably also true for those who attended a large college or university as they attract students from everywhere.  Since most often terrorism targets major cities and most families have at least one member of the family, brother or sister, son or daughter, cousin, roommate, teammate, or friend probably living there, we all worry about our loved ones.

I was afraid for a couple of guys who I ran on a track team with might have been running the Boston Marathon Monday.  Another friend from college had just moved to Boston and the church he is pastoring, we found out, is just a 5 minute walk from the finish line.  All are safe.

When 9/11 happened a wonderful guy who'd just married one of my favorite cousins (no rankings today) watched the towers right out his office window.  Dear friends of the family were working in the Pentagon at the same time.

I've had the odd distinction of listening to, praying with, and trying to encourage people who were at Columbine High School, 9/11, and Virginia Tech.  Sadly... very sadly, out of the 100s of thoughts that scattered through my brain after Newtown one was, "I'm glad it finally happened far from me."

Its totally normal to ask a lot of big questions after these things:

• Why does this happen?
• What's the right response?  To kill?  To imprison?  To even do nothing?
• Where was God?
• Why God?
• What would I have done?
• Will I ever feel normal again?

With Virginia Tech and Columbine in the rear view mirror I felt truly awkward when moving to the Bay Area and a similar event nearly happened.  Not long after moving to the area full time, and while still connecting with a student getting over the grief of being a student at VA Tech during the massacre, another school tragedy almost happened.

At Hillsdale High School, maybe a few miles away, and where a couple of our students now go, a student walked in with a sword, chainsaw, and pipe bombs strapped to his chest.  He let at least one of the bombs off and then a teacher tackled him to the ground preventing any further chaos from occurring.

I actually wondered if I was cursed.  That wherever I moved there'd be some sort of school tragedy happening.

Dealing with the tragedies of my own life and listening to friends work through their own, the cynic always seems to pop its head.  People try to encourage you but it just doesn't work.  The Bible verses, the pithy sayings, the pats on the back, you just imagine their doing it simply because they figure you're hurting.  I mean, it probably helps them so why not?  You're polite, say, "Thank you," and move along.

I've always felt like I needed something tangible.  Something I can see just as much I could see the tragedy in front of me.  Something that was more real than an optimistic phrase or verse I'm supposed to believe in.  I want something easy to believe in because its not a very easy time.  Mr. Rogers hits it right on the head.  Look at the people helping.

So over the past couple days I've been trying to turn the news off when its all about reports of suffering and destruction.  Don't get me wrong, its important to be fully informed and understanding, but 4-6 hours a day might be overdoing it.  For a news junkie like myself its not easy to turn it off.  But I start hearing Jack Johnson sing, "Why don't the newscasters cry when the read about people who die?" and begin to wonder the same thing.

THEN I catch the light in the darkness and there's a story about one of the helpers and I'm glued.  They have courage, compassion, and don't simply see the blood and tears as a reason to protect themselves, they see it as a reason to fix what's broken.

Our world sometimes feels like a broken place.  It gets overwhelming at times, especially when you affected by one of these types of tragedies.  But these people help me remember, there is a lot of fixing going on.

Look at all those people helping:

Carlos Arredondo puts a tourniquet on a man after he loses both legs, one with an American flag

Dr. Vivek Shah, after just completing the grueling 26.2 mile course jumped into help the hurting despite obvious fatigue and/or possible dehydration of his own.

Dr. Allan Panter, an ER doctor, was fortunately and unfortunately at the right place at the right time waiting waiting for his wife at the finish line.

Emily Clark, a local college student, after being told her race was over at mile 25 ran to the hospital to donate blood.  Donate blood after running that much!

People literally opening up their homes via social media and Google Docs to those who need a place.  Some hotels were evacuated and closed although their reservation list was full.

Joe Andruzzi, 3-time Super Bowl winner, Joe Andruzzi who has 3 NYFD brothers who responded to the 9/11 attacks, Joe Andruzzi who was there for his charity work, carries an injured woman to safety. 

Tom Meagher, volunteer and finish line coordinator, actually running towards the blast to aid a fallen runner moments after it occurred.

The Huffington Post actually has a whole host of pictures (beware: many of them are very graphic) from the site.  But sincerely though, after taking some time to breathe in Mr. Rogers words I didn't see as much hurt and suffering.  I saw tons of people helping.