True Worth

Sometimes unexpected events show the true worth of people, not only as individuals but as local, state, national and world communities. That has been the case with the youth soccer team that has been stuck in a cave in Thailand for more than a couple of weeks. Specialists from many countries, including our own, have been on hand to offer their expertise in bringing these kids to the surface to be reunited safely with their families. It is in these worst of times that we see the true nature of human beings. There are no colors, no political parties, no economic or religious differences being touted by those staring down the mouth of the cave. There are only people who share one goal: they desperately want to bring those children home and they are willing to put themselves at risk to achieve that goal.

Sunday evening, they began the long, treacherous journey to bring the kids, one by one, to the surface. Just looking at the rough map of the path that they would travel was enough to cause me anxiety and I was sitting on my couch thousands of miles away. How do you communicate to terrified children, most of them unable to swim, that their exit route is hours away and much of it underwater? Kudos to the rescue teams that have meticulously planned this harrowing rescue. Last week, one brave member of the rescue team lost his life to the cause, punctuating just how dangerous this undertaking is and highlighting the nature of those that stand ready to offer their unique skills to the purpose.

It is times like these that I am reminded how much we have in common as a world community. And it is times like these that make me proud to be, not just an American, but a human being. So many times, the stories we read and the rhetoric that we are bombarded with is about what is wrong with the world, the country, the state, the county, the city or even our own neighborhood. It is a shame that it take a tragedy to remind us of our shared humanity.

If you do nothing else today, take a moment and say a little prayer, offer up a good thought or wish or hope that those children and the teams of people who are supporting them during their great time of need come home safely. And, be proud that despite everything, compassion is still a great motivator.