A Safe Place To Land

Can we be that for others?

Earlier this month, four small children and two adults were injured when a knife-wielding man attacked them in a playground in a park in the French Alpine town of Annecy. I couldn’t get myself to watch the video of it. But what I did read about was a young man who used his backpacks to try and distract and disarm the attacker and keep the children safe.

“When you know that you’re loved by God and that he saved our lives, you can act without thinking too much about your own (life) to try and save those of the children,” said Henri, now hailed as the backpack hero. “I am far from alone in having reacted,” Henri added. “Many other people around started, like me, to run after him to try to scare him, push him away. And other people immediately went over to the children to take care of the injured.”

Photo by Ahmed Jubair on Unsplash

Another story from France, stole my heart this week:

The Nazis were actively rounding up Jews in 1942, in France. Andre Trocme, a Reformed Church minister, inspired the entire village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon to change lives. Each of the villagers voluntarily risked their lives to hide Jews, who were being rounded up by the Nazi SS for shipment to the death camps—in homes, on farms, and in public buildings. Every household in the village is said to have provided shelter to a Jewish family. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon became known as the “City of Refuge.” Whenever Nazi patrols searched the village, the Jews were sent out to hide in the woodland countryside. One villager recalled, “As soon as the soldiers left, we would go into the forest and sing a song. When they heard that song, the Jews knew it was safe to come home.”

Both these stories have made me think about whether I create a safe place to land for others? How much am I willing to put myself out to help another? Whether it be by listening, reaching out, helping in some form or just being there, it’s possible for us to tell others that it is ‘safe to come home’.

Also, do we have people in our lives that are our safe place to land?

Photo by Ryk Naves on Unsplash

When Fireworks Fall

When you're just too tired to sleep 
and your pillow feels like lead 
when the worries in your mind
fly like fireworks in your head
when your bones are made of metal 
and your muscles loathe to move
and your heart is numb and far too full
of this world’s ugly truths.
On these nights when you can’t settle 
and the planet seems so cold 
let me walk amongst those fireworks
let me be the one who’s bold
I will catch them in my hands 
and pop them safe beneath your bed 
I will leave some lovely thoughts 
to fly around in there instead.
When your body won’t continue 
and your soul just needs a break 
don’t forget I’m always here 
and I will gladly be your brave
you’re not here to be alone
so let me catch you when you stall 
and I promise I will let you catch me too 
when fireworks fall.
Donna Ashworth

I wish you find your safe place to land and also be a there for others.

Have a peaceful and meaningful week ahead.

♥

Corinne

Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

This Week’s Love List

Read :

Donna Ashworth’s poems - they are always uplifting. The one shared above - When Fireworks Fall - is shared on her Facebook page and is from her book, I Wish I Knew

Listen :

To Sara Bareilles’ A Safe Place To Land (on Spotify)

Quote of The Week :

The function of freedom is to free someone else. Toni Morrison