Wind and love still blow...

These past few days, when Typhoon Yagi made landfall, perhaps no one did not access the news every day. Following the situation of the storm, following the damage that people had to bear, each day received more bad news that made them feel sad and heartbroken: Quang Ninh had a broken earth dam of an irrigation project, Phu Tho bridge collapsed, Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang were submerged in water, Lao Cai and Yen Bai had landslides...

Having experienced storm after storm, flood after flood; having been a child huddled in a thatched roof that shook violently, leaking one after another, silently praying to God to stop the storm; having suffered hunger when the rice in the house was flooded, the stove could not be lit; having seen parents prop a ladder against the house pillar, holding it tightly to keep the house from collapsing every time the wind howled; having experienced sisters holding each other, wading through the wind and rain to avoid the storm;... now witnessing this scene is truly pitiful.

The storm had just passed when floodwaters rushed in, sweeping away thousands of houses. Hundreds of people died or went missing. Hundreds of families were living in the open... Grief, loss, separation... People struggled to cope, sometimes helpless before the vastness of the world. It seemed that in every storm, there were people who were no longer left!

But now, after the stormy days, another wave is spreading strongly, that is humanity, solidarity, love, sharing and willingness to help each other in times of trouble of the Vietnamese people.

I have read on groups and social media many touching stories about helping each other that are being widely shared, making everyone feel the warmth and love. Images of people opening their doors to welcome the homeless, workers stuck and unable to return home, or students whose houses were damaged or had their roofs blown off... have melted the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people. Anticipating the devastating power of Typhoon Yagi, many social media accounts have shared safe, free shelters for the homeless or those with unstable homes. Not only providing free shelter, philanthropists (both individuals and businesses) also prepared food and basic necessities for those seeking shelter from the storm.

During the storm, on Nhat Tan Bridge, Hanoi, a series of trucks and cars slowed down, patiently coordinated with each other to form a windbreak to help motorbikes move safely across the bridge during the storm. Or in Hai Phong, a woman was traveling by motorbike on the road, at that time the wind was too strong, she had to leave her motorbike on the side of the road and cling to the median strip to avoid being blown away by the wind; a white car was rushing past but suddenly stopped and backed up so the woman could get on the motorbike safely.... People who are strangers, but in difficult circumstances, are still willing to protect and help unconditionally, truly precious and worthy of respect.

On social networks, many people have shared a series of touching videos and images recording scenes of Vietnamese people helping each other in times of trouble, storms or people quietly sharing food and drinks... Images of old, young, men and women of the poor countryside of Nghe An wrapping banh chung together to send to people in flood-hit areas are heartwarming. Young members of Nghe An Youth Union enthusiastically set out to help people in storm and flood areas. Police officers and soldiers rushed into the flood waters to save people... Then words of encouragement to overcome wind and rain, to cross storms came to people in storm and flood areas in times of difficulty and imminent danger: "Stay strong, we always stand by you... Not only that, many young people have gone on social networks to call for joint contributions, so that in the nearest future we can promptly support people affected by storms and floods...

Many people who can't do anything also share relief information or make urgent calls to provide essential supplies to Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Lao Cai which are flooded...

All of this has created a beautiful picture of compassion in the midst of natural disasters, becoming a fire that warms the hearts of many people.

Is there any pain that is not filled with love, is there any sorrow that does not make our hearts ache... These days we see more clearly the spirit of solidarity of the people. That is the Vietnamese people, when in trouble, in difficulty, the spirit of "gourd, please love the squash" has united everyone to overcome hardships. A precious spirit that has been nurtured throughout the history and culture of the nation. This is not only a similar sentiment, but this is what has been deposited to become a deep cultural sediment of the Vietnamese people.

And I remember some verses of poet Luu Quang Vu:

“Wind and love blow across my land

Like an eternal call that never gives up

The country is like a boat through strong winds,

Love in the storm finds each other.”./.