Beauty in chaos

Today people put aside everything to help a stranger. Without going into too much detail, we had a new customer suddenly seize and fall to the floor in front of her children and a shop full of people who had never met each other. Today I really witnessed and immersed myself into a true community of love, tenderness, and compassion. Mother Teresa’s quote tattooed on my arm shone through in my very shop: “We belong to each other.”

If you watch the news or only check Facebook, you won’t get to see the things I see every day. You won’t get to experience the beauty from ashes like I got to see today.

Because today a black woman held a white woman who was covered in tattoos while she seized violently. Today a woman called her wife for help locating a next of kin. Today an atheist held the door for a Christian as he wheeled the stretcher in. Today a mother scooped up two children that were not hers and held them tightly as they watched their mother in a crisis. Today a stranger paid the tab for the person behind her. Today the store a few doors down from us donated snacks and drinks to calm a crying child’s fears. Today a stranger held the hand of a young boy to keep his mind off of the flashing lights. Today a stranger kissed the forehead of a sleeping child who had seen far too much in her little life. Today women wiped tears and felt for a pulse of someone who could not help herself. Today people worked together in a way that the media will tell you is impossible. Today people of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs formed a community of helpers. Today money did not talk. Today no one thought for even a second about themselves.

Today was a beautiful thing to witness in the face of chaos.