In the midst of this fractious season, I’m reminded of witnessing an alternative possibility at a burn camp for children decades ago.

While there, I was reminded of the transformational possibility of coming together to heal wounds, unify differences and aspire to true greatness.

As painful as physical recovery from a severe burn is, the assimilation into your “old life” can be even more difficult; having a strong community helps.

As excruciatingly painful as burns, bandage changes, or therapy might be, physical pain can be masked with drugs, endured with grit, or overcome with time. The far greater challenge for a survivor is the emotional pain of the trauma.

Away from my family and close friends for the first time, I tried to stay to myself, remain relatively quiet and felt rather uneasy. I didn’t know anyone else there and wasn’t sure I fit in with the group. One of the camp counselors, a larger than life firefighter named Charlie positively changed my perspective.