A bus crashed and Humboldt faced tragedy this week.
Yet this was a time for people to step up in many different ways.
Humboldt was inundated with love from around the world, from pictures to poems, monetary donations to blood donations and organ donation commitments.
Unfortunately, this is what comes from tragedy.
I do not want to belittle the fact of all this light shining among the darkness.
But why does it take a tragedy before we are generous with our time, our money, and our blood?
Can we be this giving and caring when there has not been a tragedy that inspires us to do so?
Why does tragedy inspire us to hug a little harder, listen a little clearer or love a little deeper?
We are deeply saddened by everything that became of the crash: the lives lost and changed in five seconds.
Now is the time we feel the need to help. So we help.
Canadian Blood Services were turning people away from the blood donor clinic in Saskatoon after the rush of people wanting to donate blood following the crash.
Logan Boulet’s organ donation has inspired others to make the same commitment.
However, we have shortages of blood and organ donations throughout the year.
It’s worth noting that the Canadian Blood Services media release page runs a consistent message that reads: We’re short of donations. Please help.
Flowers, posters and teddy bears adorned centre ice and will stay there throughout the numerous funerals to take place.
But what will happen after these lives are celebrated? What will become of the families left to mourn?
Do not forget them. Let us make sure we care for them in the weeks and months ahead.
Before we return to some sort of normalcy, please remember to keep the goodness going.
After all this tragedy, let us keep the light shining for as long as we can.
