One Boston - a message of Healing & Hope

by OnTheCusp

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.  Just as it had been on 9-11, the sky was bright blue, people were out and about, and the world changed from the actions of a few evil people. 
Much has been written about the miraculous recoveries of hundreds of victims.  How fortunate to have this tragedy in a city where the emergency responsiveness effort is world class, as are the number of hospitals that sprang into action.  Without this aid, the outcome would have been far grimer.

It’s these terrible situations, that bring out the true goodness in people.  Those who rush towards the tragedy, putting themselves into harm’s way, in an effort to help.  Carlos Arredondo, the hero in the white cowboy hat.  The police, the medics, the medical students and veterans, all rushing in to help.  Out of bad, comes the truly good.

One survivor, a physician from Alabama, crossed the finish line as the bomb went off, shattering his ear drums.  He had to close his practice due to his head injuries.  Yet he comes here yearly, calling it a special time to connect with his second family, the city of Boston, who knows what he’s going through on his journey to heal.  Out of the terrible, new lifelines emerge.

As fellow citizens of this earth, we have seen it happen before, and it will continue.  Whether the tragedy is caused by humans or by nature, from earthquake victims in Pakistan to bombings in Paris and Brussels, hope emerges.  Out of the horrific, the community comes together to heal. 

Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh proclaimed April 15 to be One Boston Day to celebrate the city’s resilience, through acts of kindness, service and generosity.  Many participated in neighborhood cleanups, blood drives, food and clothing collections and other shared activities.  A positive tradition is born out of the chaos, the destruction and alteration of lives. 
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What happened in Boston, sadly, could happen in any city, any community.  And there is no double that the response would be the same, as we as humans put aside political differences, policy disputes, trivial worries of the day, and reach out to help, to heal, to hope.    

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