The recent typhoons brought tragedies to family and friends. I saw some casualties of the mudslide in Benguet; it’s heartbreaking. Friends lost a family or two; I remember a little boy too. Two weeks prior to the disaster, I saw him at my friend’s wedding. He was a Bible-bearer, I was the preacher. Then, I smiled; now, I’m shocked; the whole family died.
But like in other places, we see not only victims, but victors too. We see young people giving their strength to assist the needy, rescuers digging grounds, donors sharing reliefs, men and women working hand in hand. Together overcoming tragedies; like souls crying in the wilderness, “We are crushed, but not conquered. We will prevail.”
While many came, some were curious, some concerned. But in wider scale, the Filipino spirit fought (It is quite interesting many people supported non-government entities, rather than send their donations to the administration). What fascinated me were the ordinary people who stood back right after the storm. A taxi driver told me, “I’d rather work than wait for the relief to come. Doing something is better than doing nothing.” Their whole neighborhood was wiped away; only his house and another two remained.
Heroes are born in times of trouble. In fact, true leaders emerge when there are crises. They take initiative, plan, organize, recruit, direct, and control. Recognition is not the motivation, service is. With or without camera, they work. Some personalities are only good in lenses but not in leadership.
To those afflicted, however, only time can tell. The pain of death may slowly fade away, but some will linger. Some succumbs to trauma, some will survive the tragedy. But there were some who holds peace in the midst of storm. Someday, “There will be no more death.”
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