Principles – “Clayton and Brittany Cook” – Saturday, 30th of October, 2017

   In the previous article, as a comment on the message named, “Love and Peace”, we said that peace cannot grow amid thorns of hatred and we have to unplug these thorns that cause our life to bleed and expand the shadows of love. Life is so short that we cannot waste its seconds on negative and destructive feelings. Nothing will last but the good we offer. Here I recall a headline that newspapers and new agencies not to mention other media tackled last week. But let me ask, dear reader, what have you borne in mind after all the weddings you have gone to for all your life? You probably do not recall any details except for some photos on which time left its traces, the late attendance of the bride and groom, the weather conditions, clothes, catering, …etc

   Nevertheless, this unusual news was about a wedding:
The bride and groom, “Clayton and Brittany Cook”.

   The bride and groom, “Clayton and Brittany Cook” headed toward a a bridge in a garden located in Ontario, Canada in order to take some photos for their wedding. When the photographer started shooting individual photos of the bride, astonishment made eyes on stalk as the attendants were watching Clayton jumping at the river in his suit caring about nothing whatsoever. Instantly, the cameras moved toward the groom who was hasting to save a drawn child. Clayton said that he watched three kids following him for some time and he kept watching them from afar while they were approaching toward the river. While the photographer was shooting the bride, he noticed that there were two boys and the third was not seen. This made him take a look at the water to find the kid was about to drawn. He did not hesitate for a second and jumped in the water to save him. Thus, the photographer recorded the incident of rescuing the child and published photos on the Social Media saying,

   “While I was taking solo pictures of the bride this little guy was pushed into the river behind me by another child. By the time the bride noticed and shouted out, Clayton had already jumped down and brought him to safety. His quick action saved the little guy who was struggling to swim.”

   Newspapers tackled this story, Clayton and the child, Brittany commented that, “First, I thought he jumped into water as a kind of joke” then she continued saying, “One of the loveliest traits of my husband was quick wit and altruism.”

   This is how the news was concluded, but it will never be blotted out from the memory of the philanthropist humanity. What will make Clayton think about the lost kid while he was having one of the most critical moments in his life being the focus of attention? Nothing but a heart full of love and kindness. This is true love when we regard others as ourselves and made them the focus of attention as us, so that the cycle of happiness expands more and more.

General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center