In the day and a half that has passed since Thursday night's shooting in Colorado, there's been a near constant stream of news and commentators. Words of grief, shock, anger, and likely a multitude of other emotions are still flowing out of mouths and keyboards from every which way. This is, for the most part, a good thing. People are processing. I process out loud too. Certainly not all of it makes it to this blog, but there are a handful of people in my life who will, when I need them too, graciously sit there while I ramble out loud. Still, often, tragic events like this one leave me genuinely speechless. I mean what do you even say when something like that happens? I doubt even the most eloquent collection of words from the most well-respected person could actually make it any better for those involved, but a sorority sister of mine shared the following quotation in a Facebook post yesterday...
“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.” (Fred Rogers)
Just in case you didn't pick up on the name...that's the Mr. Rogers. I dare say he's one of my favorite Presbyterians, and these words hit it out of the park for me. Perhaps his words here resonate with me so much because they are the precise approach I have taken in many of the rough patches I've encountered over the past two years. There have, honestly, been times in my YAV years when I've felt utterly inundated with feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, uselessness, and any number of other 'ness-es. And during those times I was always able to find at least some comfort in the helpers around me. YAV-related and otherwise, these neighbors of mine, the helpers, continue to inspire me by making it a priority in their lives to share time and talent with the people around them. Whether that is through a year or two of structured volunteering or something completely different, it gives me great hope.
I wasn't at that movie theater in Aurora. And the only slight physical connection I have to this tragedy is that I know YAVs in Denver. So really I'm not sure if it's even my place to offer this commentary. But I hope that Mr. Rogers's little chunk of wisdom here will give you a small glimpse of hope, during this difficult time or the next, whatever it may be for you.
As I was sitting here at my (parents') kitchen table, I noticed a hummingbird flitting back and forth between hibiscus flowers. Even the littlest of birds reminds me that I just cannot give up on the beauty that is left in this world. So I hope that maybe you and I can continue to find even the smallest glimpses of beauty and hope in the helpers. In our brothers, our sisters, our neighbors.
Love,
Allison
PS - For those of you that are interested, click here to read a post on PC(USA)'s website that responds to gun violence in the context of this latest act of violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment