How do we respond when trouble hits? Do we turn inward and focus on our own hurt, or outward in service to others?

Recently, I spoke with a man we had evacuated. He showed me photos of his family and his home—completely destroyed by an FPV drone the day before. His wife had been injured and hospitalized, and they had left with only three small bags of belongings between them.

The more we talked, the more I was struck by his kindness and strength. He was patient as we communicated through Google Translate, gentle with the little dog that never left his side, and quick to help others evacuating with him, despite the many long hours spent on the road and in the transit shelters.

I’ve seen that same attitude in others at the shelter. Those who have been there longer are often the first to welcome new arrivals—showing them around, walking them to the store, helping carry bags, cleaning shared spaces, and even pitching in together to chop a huge bag of onions.

In the middle of so much loss and uncertainty, their quiet, selfless resilience has been deeply encouraging to me—an example I want to follow in the difficulties and uncertainty in my own life.