The Value of Human Life

Dear Friends,

America kept an eye on the University of Cincinnati hospital all last week, monitoring the progress of Damar Hamlin. The Buffalo Bills safety showed signs of emerging from his critical status, much to everyone’s relief, and now he is back home in Buffalo, to everyone’s relief.

Two truths were evident in that first hour after Damar Hamlin went down.

First, it was clear that this one human life was valuable. All human life is valuable, but the community needs a singular example of that truth to bring it home. All ears, eyes, hearts were focused on the youthful, prone figure on the field. The next day, two deaths were reported in the streets of Rochester. Did they have the community support before death snatched them away? Regrettably, the value of human life does not seem to be applied equally in our daily living.

In the end, neither his teammates nor the Bengals had the stomach for continuing play. The NFL authorities came to realize this and eventually the game was cancelled. All because one life – one vital life – was temporarily challenged.

The lesson for us is to enlarge our thinking and understanding so that the lives of all people everywhere are considered valuable, worth saving, with all medical resources possible activated for the sake of life.

The second truth that was clear within moments of the tragedy is that people turn to God in prayer at these times. Players dropped to their knees asking God, by whatever name they knew this divine power, to be with Damar and the team of medical experts working on him, to restore him to life. People in the stands prayed, as did people in homes around the country. I remember another time when churches and synagogues and other places of worship were full of dazed people. After 9/11. People were stunned, uncomprehending, fearful of what was next.

Suffering unites us – the suffering of one or the suffering of many. It is never sought for itself. It is not even welcome. But when we suffer together, new, vital life emerges. Just as we think of Damar Hamlin, we think of the people of Ukraine – the babies being born to the sound of bombs, the maimed, the furious, the despairing. God holds Damar Hamlin and every one of these precious Ukrainians close as life is challenged.

In the drama of life called into question, in recognizing the power of prayer to our loving God, we have our own part to play out.

“It is a serious thing just to be alive on this fresh morning in a broken world.” (Mary Oliver)

~ Sister Joan Sobala