Today marks a week since the tragic February 14 shootings during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win. I’m still reeling from not only the violence, but that it was allegedly the result of guns, some powerful automatic weapons, being used to settle “a dispute” – in a crowd of nearly a million happy, celebrating people. 

The contrast of such a joyful and celebratory moment, that in a blink, was permanently altered into a terrifying and life-ending event would be unbelievable if we hadn’t seen this kind of tragedy happen so often. In fact, five students were wounded by a drive by shooter outside an Atlanta high school on the same day as the Kansas City shootings. These events are occurring so frequently that sometimes they go by without us even noticing. 

I would now usually plead for responsible gun legislation, but since my entreaties sadly fall on deaf ears, I am focusing on how many good people reacted to the tragedy with care and compassion. They met the worst of humanity by showing us the best of it. 

There were so many acts of light, of bravery and great courage during the shooting at Union Station. Hundreds of law enforcement personnel immediately ran toward the danger; EMTs raced to the scene to help the wounded long before anyone knew if the shooting was over or just beginning. Upon first word of the shootings, surgeons and trauma teams at the hospitals where the wounded would be headed immediately cancelled all scheduled surgeries, prepared their teams and ERs and stood trained and ready to receive the ambulances that were headed their way. 

This shooting, as heartbreaking as it was, could have been much worse without those law enforcement and medical teams, and all who helped the wounded and the panicked. Who knows how many more might have been shot if not for the men who knocked down a suspect, dislodging his weapon and holding him in place until police took him into custody. 

And the goodness of people didn’t stop there. Chiefs players and Coach Andy Reid stopped on their way to safety to comfort kids who had become separated from their people. Some players even stayed with the frightened kids until they could be reunited with parents and caretakers. Other rally goers protected and attended to the wounded and those hurt in the stampede of humanity fleeing to safety. I doubt they asked what political views, orientation, religious beliefs or nationality those they helped held close. In that moment they didn’t care. They were simply helping a fellow human being in need. 

There were other heart-based responses, like my friends, Tim and Brenda Lancaster, who were at the rally and close enough to hear the shots and become swept up in the chaos. Thankfully the Lancaster’s escaped and couldn’t wait to get to the safe shelter of their home to begin trying to process everything they had witnessed. However, they had one stop to make before going home. Knowing that blood supplies were already low, they swung by the Community Blood Bank to make a much-needed blood donation. Their act, a true act of love, inspired many others, including me, to do the same. What a lift it was, in the face of incomprehensible and life altering violence, to be doing something that had the potential to affect someone’s life so positively. 

During our darkest times we often automatically respond with great love and compassion for each other. That tells me those things are always inherently in, and a part of, us. I just wish we would respond to each other with that kind of care even in good times.

But maybe the darkness is needed for us to see the stars more clearly. If that’s the case, may we all shine on.