HURRICANE HARVEY - A TIME FOR UNITY

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Turning Darkness to Light

Southeastern Texas has been absolutely pummeled with destruction in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. From flooding in Houston to the complete destruction of Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, and Rockport, Harvey has left tens of thousands of residents stranded and in need of help.

As a Texan in the impact zone, I know first-hand how much help is needed. Everything from food and water, to toiletries, to batteries, diapers, baby formula, debris removal, lunches for relief workers, and so much more is needed and put to good use in relieving the suffering of those of us who are affected.

One thing that has particularly caught my attention is how willing and ready people are to lend a hand. What has been an amazing thing to see is that people have laid aside their differences in an effort to relieve those who are suffering.

At this moment, in the affected zones, there is no black, white, brown, rich, poor, upper-class, or lower-class. There is no Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, or LGBT Rights arguments. There is no U.S. vs N. Korea, no border walls, no borders at all... no nationalism, no capitalism, or any other kind of -ism. There is no christian, muslim, hindu, buddhist, or other religious division.

What is happening is that people are helping people. Those who have resources are selflessly contributing those resources to those who have none. People who have food are sharing with people who don't. People who have safe haven are sharing it with people who have none. Those who live on the streets are helping to rescue those who are stranded on their rooftops. People are going out of their way to help each other with no expectation of return or reward... and it is a beautiful sight.

Currently there is a wave of compassion and cooperation that is ensuring each and every person affected has the help they need. No one is judging another because there is an understanding that - at this level - we are One.

The question is this, "Can we keep this momentum going?" Can the example of peace and compassion, coupled with mutual cooperation, spread beyond this disaster zone and infect the world? Can the rest of the world follow this example and lay down our petty differences and begin to build a way of life that is sustainable based on this type of cooperation and compassion?

Why not?

Must it always take a disaster to bring people together, only to roll backward into pettiness after it has passed? What if we didn't roll backward, but instead pressed forward?

Let us transmute the darkness of this disaster into light. Let us use the example of Oneness - set forth by Texas - to usher in a new age of cooperation. Let us be guided by compassion rather than competition. Let us be what we truly are... One.

- The Boatman

PS - If you would like to get involved and spread a little light to those in need, the communities of Aransas Pass, Rockport, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi could really use your help.

You can make a donation of money or supplies to the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group HERE or you can donate to the American Red Cross of the Coastal Bend HERE.