His bloodcurdling screams echoed throughout the mall. A terrified Middle-Eastern boy, no more than seven or eight years of age, ran frantically through the aisles in an obvious search for his missing parents. It is a frightening situation for any child, but what was even more frightening is the fact that as the child dashed aimlessly among the crowd, the only adult who stopped to assist him was me.
As I rushed to his aid, I totally flashed b
ack to the first time that I was separated from my parents. I was about the same age as this child, but the location was a small department store, no more than 500 square feet. An employee escorted me to the customer service booth and an announcement went out that a little girl wearing a white blouse and a pair of pink shorts had been found and would be waiting in the booth.
With a clearer head, I probably could have walked a few aisles over and found my mother, so I could just imagine the fear that paralyzed this child, misplaced by his parents in this three-story gigantic mall filled with thousands of people. I waited with him and fortunately he knew his father’s cell phone number. I was able to connect with him to reunite the family.
But why was I the only one to come to his aid? Has our society become so self-absorbed that we can’t risk assisting another human being, especially a child? I guess he wasn’t totally ignored, because the child did receive glances from people he passed, who looked as if to say “Poor thing, he must be lost” and “Not my kid, not my problem.” But why wouldn’t you help a child? What could make you close your eyes to such a vulnerable innocence?
Is everyone so overwhelmed with their day-to-day minutia that they can’t possibly take on one more dilemma? It seems automatic pilot is becoming the “new lifestyle,” creating a mundane routine that can only be changed with active consciousness. What’s the reward in allowing the dramas of life to consume you to the point of non-reaction? The reward is quickly becoming lost children dangerously enmeshed in a sea of unconsciousness.
Or was the child’s race the deciding factor that led to him being overlooked and discounted? Does a belief exist that only a minority can help a minority? After all, there was a good chance that the child might not speak the same language. Yet fear is a universal emotion and can be sensed without the benefit of words, much like the emotion of love. And no one can recognize the emotion of love more rapidly than a child. In this case, my caring demeanor allowed the little boy to find some comfort and assurance that he would see his family again.
In closing, my prayers will be continuous in asking for protection of all the children in the world to feel safe and loved without limitation, and for the adults in the villages of these children to have the courage to transcend beyond a comfortable zone to aid another human life.
And just know that I will watch over your children, no matter what.
Photo Credit
“Art of Healing” hkoppdelaney @ flickr. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
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Peer pressure and our agenda guides us to do things that our better judgement sometimes disagree with. There was a time when our sense of responsibility would dictate that we be more caring of children, but it seems that the signs of the time has sent passion down that same path as commom sense (the road to extinction). “Great article”
I think you are correct that your experience may represent a larger societal characteristic.
I recently saw a video that went viral. The video was from a street camera in NYC. A man had been stabbed and was lying on the street in need of medical attention. Many people walked by him for hours. One person even stopped and took a picture with their cell phone. By morning, the man was dead.
What does this say about our society? Nothing good, I’m afraid.
great article…. wake up america ….. that is what is happening in society and is just a reflection of it …it is sad that america has come to this….when everyone around is so self absorbed and so narcissistic …it starts at the top and works it self down into every inch of society
The ills of this world have catupulted us to a state of fear and self-protection: fear from approach of a stranger and self-protection from having our good intentions misunderstood. I tend to see both sides of the coin, since we have instilled in our children to be leery of strangers and do not go with strangers, which makes it hard for folks to come to the aide of our children (now that I think about it). That said, there are so many creeps in this world that you have to equip your children with such knowledge in order to protect them from the ill intent of such creeps. As for self, I can understand why folks are leery about coming to the aid of a child – will you be viewed as trying to take advantage of the child (if you can’t find the right help in enough time). It’s a slippery slope but my instintcs usually cause me to err outside of caution and come to the aid of any child / person / animal in need. Kudos for you for stepping up to the challenges!
I enjoyed exploring your inner child through the unfortunate yet real concerns and dilemmas of the modern demos. It’s a shame that today’s village of mankind has become muddle with the uncontrollable desire to do nothing in a time of a crisis becuase the problem doesn’t have “my” name attached to it.
Thanks for your unpopularly caring actions and real concerns.
lc
Verlalia,
It doen’t surprise me that you would stop and help this child. It is sad that we seem to have forgotten how to look out for each other. Hopefully your article will be a wake up call to remind us to pay attention, slow down, and take care of one another even when we don’t know the person in need of our care or concern.
Here’s a simple thing we can all do, smile at people you pass or see on the way. It is amazing to watch as people catch your smile and carry it forward.
Very touching story. So many unanswered questions….that make you say hmmmmm. This story makes me think back to when I was lost as a child. I remember going to the counter with tears in my eyes looking for my mother and my name being called over the intercom system. It was such a relief when she came to get me. I’m glad you took the time to help him get reunited with his parents. You have a very nurturing and kind spirit. May God continue to Bless You.