Clonskeagh Parish RCN:20016166

A Few Words from Fr Joe…………………..

Perhaps you watched the video online of the Irish runner at the Boston Marathon who stopped to help another competitor in distress. If you want to see an example of a ‘Good Samaritan’ moment then this is worth looking at. The video on the BBC is so complimentary of Aaron Beggs, from Belfast, who was coming to the end of the marathon, with just 200 meters to run, when he saw Ajay Haridasse on the ground in front of him, obviously in distress. Aaron, like most runners, is a fierce competitor and was keeping an eye on his watch as he knew a ‘PB’, personal best time was within his grasp. Fortunately, he not only has the eye of a competitor, but also a compassionate eye, and this seems to be the stronger of the two. So he first thinks, I’ve got to keep going, to achieve the prize of that precious PB, but in a nano second his compassion for the man on the ground kicks in and he stops. On the video of the race you see the moment when Ajay first fell, tried to get back on his feet, stumbles back to the ground, tries to crawl forward, but all in vain. During those moments hundreds of runners went past, none stopped. When Aaron reached down to pick him up, it was immediately clear that he wasn’t going to manage this alone. Given the power of good example, another runner also stopped and now Ajay had support on both sides and was literally carried over the line. Aaron was interviewed many times and the images and words of compassion were carried by social media to millions of people. In this fragile and troubled world, with so much war and violence and inhumanity it is little moments like this, when compassion, kindness and decency are expressed, that we are reassured of the dignity of every person and the role of compassion. Well done Aaron and Robson for putting your neighbour first, for setting a standard that inspires many to imitate and makes the world a better place with this fragment of human kindness.