Hiding in New Orleans
In my 15th year, my father and I were getting into our car when our neighbor across the street walked out of his hotel-restaurant. We could see flames dancing in the windows. He said. “It is on fire and is gone.” He then did nothing to try to put out the fire or contact the fire department. It was a horrendous day. Before it was over, seven large country homes and businesses were burned to the foundations.
My dog was a recurring problem all day long. As soon as he realized there was a problem, he ran inside and hid behind the stove in the kitchen. I dug him out and tied him in a safe place. He got loose and hid inside again. “Stupid Dog” I said. I dug him out and tied him again. Someone took pity on him and untied him. I had to go in again. By now I could see the blue sky through the burned out corner of the roof. Again I tied him and told people I wasn’t going back into a burning building to rescue a stupid dog again, so they should leave him alone!
What was going on? Why would an animal go back into a building filled with smoke and vibrating with the roar of flames? There are many stories in the country of horses doing the same thing. They often run back into a burning barn, even though it is a death sentence. Are they simply functioning as dumb animals or is something else going on?
For that matter why did thousands of people insist on staying in New Orleans even though it too is a death trap? Seeing them on CNN, they remind me of my dog crouched in the corner of the kitchen. Are they just being stupid or not? People are generally regarding them as foolish, but perhaps that is not the entire picture.
I think that the something else that is going on is that, like my dog, they have dug into the one place where they feel safe. Even when rescuers come to their door, they cannot be persuaded it is safe to leave. Sometimes people lost in the woods do something very similar. They may hide from the very people trying to rescue them. As illogical as it seems, their biggest concern, as I think is that of the folks holed up in New Orleans is, what they conceive as their own safety.
What we can learn from this is how important it is to look after each other gently and caringly. The authorities in the city seem to be doing that to the best of their ability. For us, it is important to remember that safety is our primary concern. If we have grown up in an environment where we did not always feel safe, or if our environment is suddenly very dangerous, we might well freeze in the face of danger. Patience, kindness, and, at times, firm concern are all of prime importance.
That is what I think. What do you think?