The news out of Turkey and Syria is horrific. The death toll keeps climbing into the tens of thousands and even more people are suffering from hunger, exposure, and impossible grief.
Safe and comfortable here in North Carolina it’s tempting to simply look away from this situation that leaves me feeling helpless and ineffective. And yet, over the weekend, I listened to a radio report from ground zero. The reporter was at a hospital in Turkey (maybe the only one??) that was overflowing with people in desperate need.
He told the story of a man who dragged himself from the rubble, freed his family, and then drove 100 miles to get his wife to the hospital where she could be treated for broken ribs. He was able to find some food, which he loaded in the truck, and was about to head back to his hometown. The reporter asked him how he was doing.
And this is where I was utterly stunned. Not to mention shamed.
“I’m the happiest man in the world,” he said. He went on to add, joyfully, that he was able to rescue his grandchildren and now has the capacity to help other people.
And because of this, he’s the happiest man in the world. Happier than I am. Probably happier than you are. Why? Because the very worst thing possible happened. And he survived it. His family survived it. And now he’s helping other people who survived it. Family. Community. Compassion. All in the midst of one of the worst disasters in decades.
A flame burning brightly in a dark, dark place. And if I’d given in to the urge to look away, I would have missed it.
ABSOLUTELY!! Prayers for ALL those people…SO sad yet the stories from there are unbelievable at times.
We are SO BLESSED.
Indeed we are.
Beautiful, Sarah, and oh, so true. Thank you for the reminder.
Everyone needs to hear this man!
The tragedies that are happening around the world does indeed give us opportunity to reflect and pray and pray some more.
Amen.
Yes, it is terrible – we should count ourselves lucky. Only way I could help was
give to UMCOR – a fund through the Methodist Church which I know gets where it
is supposed to go.
Hope you are doing ok.
Peggy
Reputable charities are the best!
And yes, I’m doing better each day.
What a wonderful reminder of how BLESSED we truly are! Sometimes we we are so busy looking at our own problems that we fail to see what others are going through. This man has a beautiful, caring heart. 🙂 💗
Doesn’t he, though!
I am so glad you wrote this. I no longer keep up with the news,tragic or otherwise. I am thankful for you and others like you that tell of someone who is a true shiner of the light as Jesus meant for it to be done! Thank God for those who take the lead and show us the way
It was nice to hit on such an uplifting story the one time I DID listen to the news!