Sometimes it takes something bad to shine the good in us all. For example, the events of 9/11 showed the world how loving and compassionate New Yorkers and all Americans really were deep down as it galvanized us all and made us realize how connected we really are.
The same thing happens when natural disasters wreak havoc on areas such as New Orleans and currently with the earthquake in Haiti. So many people from all over the world are joining together to help the survivors recover and rebuild. It’s an amazing miracle to beyond. I only wish that it didn’t have to take such painful events to remind us that we are one family in this thing called life.
I’ve always loved this song by the Hollies “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” which was the motto for Boys Town, a community formed in 1917 by a Catholic priest named Father Edward Flanagan. It was a safe haven for troubled or homeless boys. In 1941, Father Flanagan was looking at a magazine called The Messenger when he came across a drawing of a boy carrying a younger boy on his back, with the caption, “He ain’t heavy Mr., he’s my brother.” Father Flanagan thought the image and phrase captured the spirit of Boys Town, so he got permission and commissioned a statue of the drawing with the inscription, “He ain’t heavy Father, he’s my brother.” The statue and phrase became the logo for Boys Town. They later did the same with a statue of girls.
Father Flanagan and Boys Town were the inspirations for a couple of Spencer Tracy movies called Boys Town and Men of Boys Town.