Where’s The Good News?

It’s been a hell of a month. For me, yes – but much more so for countless others.

There’s no avoiding the devastation that’s flooded (literally) our nation, and the aching stories of loss – loss of homes, loss of life, and loss of hope. It’s everywhere. As I write this, the tally in the Florida Keys is that 1 out of every 4 homes is gone.

Gone.

That’s just putting a label on the loss they feel – ‘home.’ To these people, home likely represented the things that it does for all of us.

Family.

Memories.

Safety.

And just like that – they’re gone. It’s a violent, physical rendering of an ever present theme that exists in each of our worlds. Loss.  It’s hard not to feel discouraged, heartbroken, aimless, angry, and hopeless. There’s not a lot we can do about some of those emotions.

There’s a whole lot we can do about others.

“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

I have no words of hope or encouragement for those who have lost their homes, their loved ones, their strength, or their hope. No words other than these: look for the helpers. These strangers you have never met who are wading through the wreckage, rowing through your devastated streets, mucking out your broken home – they are delivering hope. 

And for those of us feeling helpless and lost, aching for those we’ve never met and wondering how far our prayers could possibly reach, we can find hope in the helpers. They are our neighbors. They are our friends, our family, our colleagues, our acquaintances. They are the hope that we thought we lost.

I have been broken before, more times than I would like to admit. But I am walking through healing, discovering strength, and building a relationship with hope – because there are helpers in the world. 

It’s with a broken heart that’s allowing a glimpse of light through that I encourage us all to do more than just look for those helpers. You will find healing in becoming the helpers. You will find your strength when you lift another. Do what you can. And then do just a little bit more.

If you’re looking for a place to start, head over here.