Many pundits have said we are today “very much a divided nation.” With all the political disagreement, COVID stress, social unrest and seemingly endless “bad” news which bombards us on a daily basis, it’s no wonder many people are depressed and concerned about the state of the world today. Sometimes I hear people say that the world is full of “bad” people. From time to time, I hear people say that the world is going downhill, “This world is just not the same as when I was growing up.” Certainly the world has changed – and always has been evolving. Change is inevitable. This doesn’t mean that change is bad. It just “is.” It certainly does seem that the past few years we Americans have been more “politically” divided than normal, whatever normal means. I submit that we may not be as far apart as we might think, especially when it comes to our goodness. My evidence of this unity was presented to me in a rare and uncommon way: The aftermath of disaster and devastation. The tornadoes that struck our area in the early morning hours of December 11th brought unbelievable destruction, devastation, injury and death. To say these storms were horrific is an understatement. As most of us that live in Western Kentucky have seen, the power of these storms to destroy life and property is abundantly clear. I have only seen first-hand the areas in Bowling Green and Warren County. The videos and pictures of Graves, Hopkins and Caldwell counties are even more grotesque. The loss of lives and the property damage is horrifying. So many people have used the word “sickening” to describe the feeling that overcomes them when they actually see the damage at the ground level and more so, when we hear the stories of families having to deal with death during the Christmas season due to these vicious storms. These precious lives lost seem to have a more intimate connection when they are our close neighbors. This path of carnage looks very different in-person than it does when we see it on television from someplace other than the town where we live.
What we have all witnessed since these violent storms struck is nothing short of amazing. Amidst all the destruction and devastation springs forth the manifest goodness of the human heart. People from literally all over the country have shown up to help. They have shown up and shown out. Sunday morning, 12/12/21, I met a family from Bettendorf, Iowa that knew no one in Warren County. They just “saw the story on TV and drove down here to help.” They worked tirelessly dragging fresh-cut wood away to the right of way. One young man I met and worked with was an off-duty firefighter from Lexington who just felt like he could help by chainsawing and clearing paths for the residents and utility workers. These are just two of the countless examples of many who just came and helped. People from all over brought new clothes to the donation centers. Folks from right here in this area and from, again, all over the country, came to our region and pitched in. The amount of money people from all over the world have given in kindness is astounding. People of all shapes, sizes, colors, sexes, political parties, religions, genders, backgrounds, beliefs, persuasions, nationalities and all other forms of description we can imagine, all showed up – and showed out – to help folks they never even knew, and many times never even saw, and most of the time will never ever meet. Just because they felt the need to help, these people came and gave. Not one instance am I aware of that someone asked about someone’s politics. Not one time have I heard anyone ask about anyone’s view on any topic of controversy. It wasn’t about the differences. It was about our similar existence as human beings. It was about helping people in need. Everyone just showed up and helped. In all the press coverage, which has been wonderful and extensive, of this outpouring of love for folks harmed by the storms, it has been abundantly clear that people care. In this moment of tragedy, we can’t seem to hide our love for one another. And we seem to care and give with no discrimination when it really matters most. To me this is beautiful. Perhaps God has sent us a message in the midst of tragedy. (I’m not at all saying that God sent horrible storms as a message. Perhaps I’m just not very receptive in my normal every day?) This is strange that, at least for me, it took a horrible tragedy to be reminded of the goodness of our human hearts. Out of this tragedy is hope and love and common ground.
Thank you to all the wonderful first responder professionals for helping to keep us safe and rescuing us when we need it. In the pre-dawn darkness, as torrential rain poured out of the clouds, with no street lights to help them find their way, our dedicated first responders answered the calls for help and blazed a trail right into the night. What they saw had to be terrifying. No amount of training – and I am certain they have all been properly trained – can accurately prepare a person for the level of devastation and death and injury these heroes encountered. I am so grateful for the actions these people took to help those injured, killed and those displaced by these storms. This reminds me of our country’s mood post-9/11/01. I am hopeful we can all continue to remember the sacrifice of these first responders as we encounter them in our lives on a day-to-day basis.
Our economy works better and we all live better lives when we work together. Out of this tragedy comes great hope of working together for the greater good. This is certainly good for our economy, but even more importantly, good for us as people who live together in community. If ourTeam at Life Compass Financial can help you in any way, please call on us.
-by Ben Smith
Registered Principal, RJFS
313 East 10th Ave. • Bowling Green, KY 42101 • Phone: 270-846-2656
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