Tragedy has a way of recalibrating priorities. When something really bad happens today, the stuff that worried us so much yesterday tends to dissipate. We become focused on what must be done and, hopefully, get to it.
Since the horrific flooding last week, West Virginians have turned a laser-like attention on rescue and recovery. Folks who have lost so much in the floods have been overwhelmed by the goodness of friends, neighbors and strangers pitching in to help.
It’s doubtful the volunteers have thought much about why they are helping, beyond the idea that, well, it’s the right thing to do.
For some, it’s a proper exercise of their faith. The Bible is filled with teachings on the subject. In Matthew, Jesus tells the inquiring lawyer that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and soul, but the second is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Some form of the Golden Rule is found in all major religions. The Dalai Lama said loving your neighbor is its own reward: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Psychologists have their own, more clinical explanation of the Golden Rule, suggesting that being kind to others triggers a reciprocity that improves your own mood. “When we act with honesty, kindness and love, then we will begin to expect the people around us to do the same,” writes therapist Dr. Robert Puff in Psychology Today. “Life will flow much better.”
It’s also theorized that through evolution we have become hardwired to be sympathetic, making us more conducive to survival, relationships and procreation.
The French coined the term “noblesse oblige,” meaning “nobility obligates.” Individuals born of nobility had certain requirements to act with honor, kindness and generosity. We have a broader, less royal version of that today where many who have benefitted from hard work or good fortune believe they have an obligation to give back.
Whatever the reason or reasons, so many people who were not directly impacted by the flooding are giving their time and resources to help others. Last week, it was the muddy waters that roiled through communities causing death and destruction, but now it’s the inherent goodness in humanity that is flowing forth, helping and healing.