BLOG: Light in Darkness: Heroes at the Boston Marathon

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" - Fred Rogers

In situations such as the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday, it's so easy to think only of the horror. Of the murder and mayhem, of the senseless violence, of the fragility of life so easily disrupted.

But I offer you another option. In every situation such as this, there are those who rise out of the rank and file and become heroes in an instant.

Those heroes shine a Light into this darkness, a Light than can never burn out, can never be extinguished.

Sitting here in my warm house in Campbell, I am helpless to stop the suffering in this dark world. But I can celebrate that which is good. Remember September 11 and the extraordinary acts of generosity and selflessness that came out of that terrible day? I will never forget the shoe store owner in his shattered store front, handing out sneakers to women limping in high heels hundreds of blocks to their homes in the burroughs. A simple act of selfless grace...we can't stop the darkness, but we can shine some light into it. 

Combat the darkness and think on the good. Think of the shining pinpoints of Light who acted immediately today - without thought of personal safety or gain. Let their example be ours, and turn to the light.

For when our face is to the sun, the shadows fall behind us...

Here are just a few:

• Those who ran towards the blasts as others frantically tried to run away.
• The people who ran beside wheelchairs full of wounded, a stranger's blood on their hands, as they held a tourniquet and saved a life.
• Runners who ran straight from the finish line to the nearest hospital to donate blood.
• The civilians who leaned in to assist the emergency personnel, doing the hard and ugly work of sifting through the wreckage for evidence.
• Google programmers who quickly set up a "Person Finder" to help friends and family locate loved ones and keep track of one another in the melee
• Hospitable Bostonians offering their home to one or more of the long list of runners who cannot get to their hotels tonight. (Source and more info: US News)
• National guardsmen and women, police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, and every other city employee who hasn't yet had their dinner tonight, who are still giving statements or scouring the pavement with searchlights in the dark, or searching for more of this madness, protecting others, sacrificing their time off, their comfort, all for the sake of their city. God bless you all. God keep you safe. 

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Adelle Gabrielson is a local writer trying to live life with grace, humor and great shoes. Read more of her musings at www.AdelleGabrielson.com or follow on Facebook.