Reaching out to others

As a journalist, I see and read about the dregs of humanity on a daily basis. Murderers, rapists, terrorists – on and on it goes as the headlines spell out the awful things man does to his fellow man. And as the years mount, you can’t blame me for being just a little cynical.

So as massive Category 4 Hurricane Harvey bore down on Texas, I already was dreading what was I going to see. Reports of incredible damage and even loss of life. Picture after picture of cars and homes destroyed. Update after update of just how bad things were. And let me tell you, Harvey didn’t disappoint on offering up a heaping helping of bad news.

But then something happened. The reports started to show a side of mankind that we don’t see often enough, and Lord knows in today’s world we need to see more of it. Video of countless people pulling up to flood-ravaged areas with their personal boats to see what they could do to help. Everyday people going into dangerous areas to save their fellow man. I even saw a video of a 5-year old boy – a Houston native now living in Philadelphia – doing a lemonade stand to raise money for the folks in Texas.

Every hurricane has an eye – an area of calm inside the destructive force of nature. And it seems that each time a storm hits, we see the “eye” of mankind – the calm, peace-loving side that will do anything to help their fellow man. And often it is complete strangers lending a hand. They have no vested interest in these communities hit by the storm. They just have a heart and desire to help.

The only negative in all this is why do we have to wait for Mother Nature to hit an area with destruction to reach out and help others. Our world is being torn apart by hate and violence. Why not help out someone around you today for no reason other than to be a light in a dark world?

Don’t get me wrong, I applaud each and every person who in a large or small way reaches out to those in need after a natural disaster. I just wonder why our hearts can’t be so moved to help each and every day. We as humans show real humanity when those around us are down and in need. We just need to make it a habit to show our love for our fellow man on a regular basis – even when the sun is shining.