Counting the blessings, Part 2
There was a second conversation today that reminded me of the lap of luxury I currently live in. If you are close to anyone who endured life through the Great Depression, you've probably felt this same thing.
People who have lived through that era are an interesting breed. They've been in once sense permanently scarred from that time and place. They have 'quirks' that we find 'eccentric' but they just make part of daily life. Things like eating an apple, or a chicken leg is very different thing for them. They devour the core of the apple, and will break open the leg and suck out the marrow. My grandfather to this day does not shower with hot water or use the A/C in his car. This is just that way it is for some people, and nothing is ever going change that.
And in another sense these people have an indomitable spirit and incredible strength. Have you ever noticed that these people don't get particularly rattled at anything? I guess after enduring the depression, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Civil Rights, and every major crisis that occurred in-between these times, nothing really takes you by surprise anymore. What an interesting time to be alive! Boy am I glad I missed it :)
I'm grateful that we live in a time and place where there are recordings and video everywhere. I think the fact that people will be held more accountable than ever is going to change the world for the better. Mankind has always been elevated when its actions are held up in the light instead of buried in the dark. Perhaps sometime I'll go off on that tangent about how quickly the world seems to be changing, and yet at the same time staying the same.
But for today, I'm counting my blessings! You know why? Because my life is great. I have my best friend who agreed to marry me for God knows what reason 9 years ago, and we've been together ever since, and will be together forever more! What a blessing to find one's soul-mate at such a young age! We have a warm and loving home, wonderful relatives who live nearby, warm places to sleep, and a fridge full of food. We have 2 vehicles, a TV for every bedroom, and are for the most part very healthy. What a combination!
I am reminded how rare this is almost every day at work. I see people who are not in loving relationships, with their spouses, parents, children, or anyone. Many have chronic illnesses that torment them regularly, and others are experiencing some serious trauma that day that I have never had to deal with in person. I've seen 5 year old boy with major burns to his face. This was heart wrenching. My son is almost 5. He is alive and well in the next room as I type this. There, but for the grace of God, go I. I've seen a 15 year old being treated for complications with her second pregnancy. How much does a 15 year old know about the trials and tribulations of life, and how much of those tribulations will her children face?
Perhaps my most painful scenario was a 64 year old man who's father had attempted to commit suicide (a subject that you may already know is near and dear to my being). The son had flown down from the northeast to help bury his mother, and give his father strength through the funeral arrangements. The son was scheduled to fly back in the morning to get back to work, and his father had attempted to kill himself this night. So now this poor man who had just buried his mother did not know what to do about his 85 year old father who had just lost his soul-mate and saw no reason to continue his misery. He's lived through the depression, and the wars, and trials and tribulations of life, and the Red Scare. He endured all of this with his wife at his side, and now he is expected to face more alone? (and about this point I walk up and ask if I can make a photocopy of his Medicare card).
What would I do if I was in the son or the father's shoes? Would I try to find some encouraging words to inspire my father to experience more of this life? Would I decided to allow him to follow his soul-mate (and probably most of the people who have ever meant anything to him) into the great hereafter?
I honestly do not know. I know that I was able to drive my vehicle home that night. Home to my wife and family with our fridge full of food and house full of love.
But before I walked out, I stopped by the chapel, and said a prayer of thanks for my blessings.
-H-
People who have lived through that era are an interesting breed. They've been in once sense permanently scarred from that time and place. They have 'quirks' that we find 'eccentric' but they just make part of daily life. Things like eating an apple, or a chicken leg is very different thing for them. They devour the core of the apple, and will break open the leg and suck out the marrow. My grandfather to this day does not shower with hot water or use the A/C in his car. This is just that way it is for some people, and nothing is ever going change that.
And in another sense these people have an indomitable spirit and incredible strength. Have you ever noticed that these people don't get particularly rattled at anything? I guess after enduring the depression, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, Civil Rights, and every major crisis that occurred in-between these times, nothing really takes you by surprise anymore. What an interesting time to be alive! Boy am I glad I missed it :)
I'm grateful that we live in a time and place where there are recordings and video everywhere. I think the fact that people will be held more accountable than ever is going to change the world for the better. Mankind has always been elevated when its actions are held up in the light instead of buried in the dark. Perhaps sometime I'll go off on that tangent about how quickly the world seems to be changing, and yet at the same time staying the same.
But for today, I'm counting my blessings! You know why? Because my life is great. I have my best friend who agreed to marry me for God knows what reason 9 years ago, and we've been together ever since, and will be together forever more! What a blessing to find one's soul-mate at such a young age! We have a warm and loving home, wonderful relatives who live nearby, warm places to sleep, and a fridge full of food. We have 2 vehicles, a TV for every bedroom, and are for the most part very healthy. What a combination!
I am reminded how rare this is almost every day at work. I see people who are not in loving relationships, with their spouses, parents, children, or anyone. Many have chronic illnesses that torment them regularly, and others are experiencing some serious trauma that day that I have never had to deal with in person. I've seen 5 year old boy with major burns to his face. This was heart wrenching. My son is almost 5. He is alive and well in the next room as I type this. There, but for the grace of God, go I. I've seen a 15 year old being treated for complications with her second pregnancy. How much does a 15 year old know about the trials and tribulations of life, and how much of those tribulations will her children face?
Perhaps my most painful scenario was a 64 year old man who's father had attempted to commit suicide (a subject that you may already know is near and dear to my being). The son had flown down from the northeast to help bury his mother, and give his father strength through the funeral arrangements. The son was scheduled to fly back in the morning to get back to work, and his father had attempted to kill himself this night. So now this poor man who had just buried his mother did not know what to do about his 85 year old father who had just lost his soul-mate and saw no reason to continue his misery. He's lived through the depression, and the wars, and trials and tribulations of life, and the Red Scare. He endured all of this with his wife at his side, and now he is expected to face more alone? (and about this point I walk up and ask if I can make a photocopy of his Medicare card).
What would I do if I was in the son or the father's shoes? Would I try to find some encouraging words to inspire my father to experience more of this life? Would I decided to allow him to follow his soul-mate (and probably most of the people who have ever meant anything to him) into the great hereafter?
I honestly do not know. I know that I was able to drive my vehicle home that night. Home to my wife and family with our fridge full of food and house full of love.
But before I walked out, I stopped by the chapel, and said a prayer of thanks for my blessings.
-H-
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