A tale for first responders everywhere (including all the unofficial ones). Why a moment to gather is not a waste of time.

Nerves clanged. A flash of lightning lit the scene for a moment then just as soon was gone. Bloodied stones in chaos. Screams, sobs, gasps joined the rolls of thunder.

She hardly knew where to start. The tabletop had hit her as it broke, but it had taken the worst of it and she was pretty sure she was uninjured. 

She felt an urgent need to rush to the victims, could picture herself darting from one to the other in near panic, discovering horror after horror. 

“That’s what you’re supposed to do!” the voices in her head were incessant. 

“You’ve seen the films. Speed is critical. Get going, you lazy scaredy-cat!”

“It won’t help you know,” whispered her higher self. 

“Not like that. 

“First, be peace.”

She shook her head to clear their chatter and drew a breath, noticing her own trembling. Brick dust hit the back of her throat, its dry gritty aftertaste made her splutter before pulling her scarf over her nose and mouth.

Be peace? 

What? 

How?

“Help me!” the cries swirled around her. Too many at once. 

Be peace? Really? 

“Yes. It will bring power.”

She closed her eyes and breathed into the back of her throat, the back of her heart, the pit of her stomach. Her exhale came – slow and measured. Two more breaths then I’ll start, her thought swirled less and then stilled.

Be peace. 

Now. 

Ready.

She crawled from the wreckage of the table until she felt the first warm limb. Taking the hand of the unknown person she felt that peace spread. 

“You’re going to be ok.” Did she say it out loud? She wasn’t sure. But she felt a slight squeeze in response.

The occasional flashes of lightning helped her as she worked. Calmly, with deep presence, addressing the people she found one by one. Clearing debris. Ripping tablecloths, curtains, anything she could find to bind wounds. And always working gently, intentionally. Always focusing only on the person directly in front of her.

She felt the peace spread gradually across the room. 

Instead of using their breath to scream, they were using it to nourish their body. Instead of racing hearts there was calm. They were soothing each other now.

By the time the rescue services got to them, it was clear who needed attention most urgently. The others waited their turn. 

It could have been so much worse.