I’d be surprised if you weren’t aware of the recent tragedy in Boston, the flooding in the midwest as well as other crisis around the world.
With the privilege of a 24 hour drama loving media it is easier than ever to accentuate the negative.
I live in a rural area of Illinois and watched the footage of the unfolding flooding and felt feelings of concern for others coupled with gratitude that we weren’t enduring the same experience.
That changed when I decided to check our basement and discovered water pouring in. We were very fortunate in that it stopped before more than a few possessions were damaged.
Myself, Cathy and our oldest son Zach worked to clean up as much of the water as we could before we realized we weren’t getting anywhere and called it a night.
As we sat together before bed Zach reflected upon recent days and said, “What a terrible week?”
“What do you mean?” Cathy asked him.
Zach recounted all the negative events of the week and described it as evidence of the world we live in.
Then I asked him the following, very important question, “What else do you see?”
In each of the tragedies that occurred this week we were also witness to one of the greatest miracles of humanity. That whenever tragedy occurs the result is an exponentially greater number of people doing good than doing harm.
We have seen strangers become brothers and sisters, and an outpouring of help simply because help is needed.
Later Cathy was looking out the window after two days of rain and pointed out the beautiful night sky. I stood beside her and watched as the moon and stars emerged from behind the clouds.
I thought to myself, so often we need the dark to appreciate the light. Just as we are often at our best when things are worst.
No matter how dark the times can seem, it is also an opportunity to see the stars, our humanity come out.
We are the night sky, we are brothers and sisters and we are all in this together.
Thanks for being you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brian R. King LCSW is a Relationship Breakthrough Specialist. His breakthrough strategies draw on his experience as a 24 year cancer survivor, adult with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, A.D.D., the father of three sons on the autism spectrum as well as someone who lives on the autism spectrum himself. His books and seminars have garnered him worldwide attention for his innovative communication and relationship strategies.