Random Thoughts for the Day - What We Can Learn From The Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral

Random thought for the day.

What if the world came together during times of love and celebration, or in times of random routine and normalcy with the same amount of passion and energy that they do in a time of loss and tragedy?

The tragic fire at the Notre Dame in Paris was horrific to watch.  Art and history that stood the test of time for centuries at threat of being reduced to little more than ashes and memories in mere hours.  Native Parisians and tourists gathered together, watched together, prayed together, sang together, bonded together by their love of the potential loss of this massive symbol before them.  The gasped together as the spire fell.

All genders. All ages. All races. All religions.

Around the world, people shared memories and photos of their times in Paris.  They marveled at the first photos from inside the cathedral that showed the altar and cross unharmed despite the debris from the spire feet away.  They called the firemen brave, for preventing a total loss and saving important relics, artwork and pieces of history. They wondered aloud how the candles that had been lit to mark special intentions and novinas for lost and sick loved ones were still burning despite thousands of gallons of water.  Those candles withstood the test of this horrific tragedy. And by morning light, millions of dollars had already been pledged from all over the world to aid in the rebuild.

Two days later, my newsfeeds had already moved on.

With every tragedy, the reaction is the same. But why do we have to wait for tragedy to strike before we react?  And why do we have to let that reaction die so quickly?

What if people came together when there wasn’t a tragedy in that same way?  What if people looked at each other with positivity everyday and saw the value in each other’s existence in this world everyday?  

Everyone has a story to share, a lesson learned, a purpose to contribute to this world, the potential for greatness. Let’s spend our time lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Let’s come together before the fire starts. Instead of fanning the fire, let’s fight as hard as those French firemen to keep it from spreading.  Let’s hold hands and support each other before the fire is out of control. Let’s take the effort and passion to rebuild and keep it going to maintain.  

Let’s stop repeating the same negative actions and expecting different outcomes and embrace positivity to create a future we are proud to pass on.

Let’s treat each other while we are here with the same passion and reverence that we do once someone is gone.

What could the world be like?