Lately, it seems we have been inundated with bad news. This year is proving to have a busier-than-normal tornado season, which followed devastating earthquakes and resulting tsunamis, floods and predictions of the upcoming hurricane season.
We have witnessed the devastation in the 24-hour news cycle, seen photos of destroyed houses, flooded towns and videos of sheer terror as people try to survive tornado touchdowns.
And the aftermath is where you really witness the humanity. Through the death counts and devastation, you see neighbors helping neighbors, strangers helping strangers, and people miles away raising money in an attempt to make things better for those affected.
The aftermath of destruction tends to bring people together. Remember the aftermath of 9/11? For a short period of time, there were no Democrats, no Republicans, no conservatives and liberals – there were Americans, briefly putting their differences aside in a sense of unity.
That fades after awhile. Due to human nature, we can get complacent and go back to our same old routines, but I’m hopeful that we can learn to put our differences aside, even when it’s not a major catastrophe, to lend a helping hand during times when the trouble may not be as great by comparison - to “pay it forward,” if you will.
Recently, I have seen first-hand the kindness of strangers, in a non-catastrophe.
I am a musician and member of the band Hail the Titans, from Montgomery, Ala. We were traveling to play a show in Mobile recently when our van broke down, leaving us stranded on the side of the road. We were making calls, updating social networking sites and trying everything we could to get some sort of assistance in an attempt to make it to the show.
We ended up getting the van and trailer towed to Bay Minette, in the parking lot of an auto parts store.
While there, our bassist’s dad was able to get in touch with someone he knew in that area – a man named William “Bill” Duck. They knew each other through an organization called Oath Keepers. When Mr. Duck found out we were close by and stranded, he drove to where we were, loaded our trailer onto his vehicle and drove us the rest of the way to Mobile.
Our plan was for him to drop us off, and we would try to find a ride back to the van later. He told us that he didn’t feel safe leaving us and our equipment there, so after he had already gone out of his way to help get us there, he stayed for the show, and drove us back to Bay Minette afterwards.
A rock band breaking down on the side of the road will never compare to the devastation of a natural disaster. That’s not what this story is about. It’s an example of selflessness, the kindness of strangers and helping out your fellow man when they need it.
With his help, and the help of our bassist’s parents, we were able to get back on the road and make it to the next show – which was a benefit concert helping raise money for the Red Cross tornado relief efforts for the storms that hit many areas of Alabama in late April.
“Paying it forward” doesn’t have to wait for a tornado or terrorist attack. Working together and helping our neighbors in times of need is the only way we can survive.
About the author: Josh Carples is the managing editor of the Capital City Free Press.
Copyright © Capital City Free Press
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