Monday, October 16, 2017

October 16: Sleep Well, Human-Made Disasters, Suffering

The blind innkeeper said that the Americans could sleep in his stable that night, and he gave them soup and ersatz coffee and a little beer.  Then he came out to the stable to listen to them bedding down in the straw.

"Good night, Americans," he said in German.  "Sleep well."

It is a quiet moment at the end of an apocalypse of fire.  Dresden has been reduced to ash and rubble, most of its residents to unrecognizable char.  The blind German innkeeper could have refused to house the American prisoners, or made them sleep outside to breathe in the smell of flames and flesh.  He doesn't.  Instead, he gives them a roof, straw to sleep on, food and drink.  And he almost tucks them into sleep with his words, like a loving grandparent.

I think that horrible events--like the bombings or Dresden or Hiroshima, the 9-11 attacks--dissolve the differences that exist between survivors.  It doesn't matter whether you're German or American or Jewish or Muslim or Pakistani, in the dust and ruin, everyone simply becomes human.  Helping each other find missing fathers or daughters.  Handing out blankets and plates of chicken.  Hugging the grief-stricken.  Bandaging the wounded.

Yes, wars and bombings and terror attacks and mass shootings are all human-made disasters.  The aftermath, however, are usually human miracles of bravery, strength, compassion, and love.  It's sad that it takes moments like that to bring out the best in people.  (Sometimes the worst, as well.) 

This may sound crazy, but I think the world would be a much better place if we all kept the idea of human suffering in our hearts.  If we did that, recalled times of great national and international sorrow every day, we might treat each other more kindly.  Might go out of the way to help human beings in need.  Refugees.  Immigrants.  Women.  Children.  Gay.  Transgender.  Black.  Hispanic.  Jewish.  Muslim. 

Because, tomorrow, we may be the immigrants and refugees from our own lives. 

Saint Marty is thankful today for soup and ersatz coffee and a little beer.


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