Let me show you the flaw in that kind of thinking: Inevitably, at some point, we are that "someone else" to someone.
These last few days we have been that "someone else." We have slept with one eye open, our arms secure around our loved ones, fearful of every noise. Those who don't believe in prayer have been brought to their knees and those who do believe in prayer have prayed constantly. Men have fallen and women and children have cried. Suddenly, all the violence that we hear about in other cities was in our own back yard.
In all my wildest imaginings, it never crossed my mind that I would live in a city where the words 'manhunt' would be predominant in our newspapers. The idea that the 'bad guy' was so close was unreal and unnerving.We were all worried and scared. All I wanted to do was hold my hubby and stay inside.
By mid day yesterday, June 5, the streets were barren and everyone was at home. No one ventured out. Everyone held their breath. The fine people in the RCMP, worked round the clock to make our city, our back yard, safe again. Even though we were not prepared for what happened, the RCMP was quick to respond and they did an astounding job. They allowed us the privilege of fear and worry. They risked their lives so that we could hold our loved ones, while their loved ones could only hold each other and watch.
David Ross, Fabric Georges Gevaudan, and Douglas James Larche laid down their lives for us on Wednesday, June 4th. They will never come home to their families. To think that someone can be so quickly brought down by a man-made instrument strikes home the fragility of life. To think that all of the hard work of mothers in labor can easily be erased in only seconds, makes my heart pound with fear for the those that I love. These men should not die in vain. We should learn from the way that these men lived.
They loved passionately and they fought valiantly. To be a good RCMP officer, you need to believe in what you protect and be quick to face dangers so that other do not have to. They still feel fear because they are human and they should. It is this fear that makes them hero's when they left everything behind to protect our streets. It is because of this fear that they are brave. It is those three names that I will remember and respect.
The last couple of days we have been that someone else. And while we were not prepared, we did survive and we will continue to thrive. We need to use this experience to bring us closer together as a community and as a family. If we don't take it upon ourselves to love others as Jesus loves us and pray as a first defence, rather than a last defence, than those RCMP officers who have lost their lives will have lost them in vain and we will always be that "someone else" to someone.
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