facebook post - 10/11/12

So you want to know what's on my mind, Facebook? I was just now thinking how sad the world can be for those that are lonely, bitter and/or angry. I was thinking that the sadness/loneliness/bitterness/anger impacts all of us, either directly or indirectly (ex: my impatience toward a client because of his rude behavior). It turned into compassion today when I heard a tiny piece of his story. This realization led me to wonder about larger examples when we affect each other so much ... families ... families ... communities ... wars. Don't these all start with a tiny seed of negative emotion, take root, and sometimes grow into humongous, nasty, toxic wars? WHAT IF EVERYONE HOLDING A WEAPON INVOLVED PUT IT DOWN AND PICKED UP A TOOL INSTEAD.?. Everyone, everywhere, would have houses and food ... and probably less sadness, loneliness, bitterness, anger ... and more friends. That's what is on my mind.

So I just had a moment of reconciliation with myself. If you care to read, this will take just a bit to explain.

Spence and I saw a man at a Taco Bell drive-through the other day ... just sitting, no sign, not bothering anyone, didn't even speak to anyone, just looking hungry. Because I was grumpy that day, because he made me uncomfortable, perhaps feeling a bit guilty that I didn't help buy him a taco, and because sometimes I get tired of people asking for handouts I told the staff. They made sure he was "removed".

It's been bothering me since. He wasn't hurting anyone. He was just hungry.

Today I saw a different man in front of SaveMart. As I did my shopping I purchased a few things for him, but when I left he was gone. Walking to my car, I literally cross paths with the man from Taco Bell. I was able to share some groceries with him and feel much better about myself and my earlier ill feelings.

He said, "lingu" (thank you). I said, "you're welcome" and went on with my day feeling a bit lighter and brighter.

Barry: "You're either a duck ... or you're not a duck"
Shelley: "Well, I'm not a duck"

:o)

Life is messy. When you can, clean it up. When clean-up is not possible immediately, stay close to friends who don't mind hanging around in your muck a while. Life, even in the midst of muck, is beautiful.

men loved by God

"Barak Obama is not evil personified; Mitt Romney is not a godless pagan. Both are men loved by God, men with significant accomplishments, and men who deserve the highest regard that we (Christians) owe to those in authority" ~ thank you Pastor Jim Holm

:o)

Each morning when I rise ...

Each morning when I rise ... if I remember to look ... I see grace eagerly awaiting to greet me with a fresh, new dose of its nourishing, healing presence. It is there in each moment during each day, in every smile, in every decision, no matter how large or how small. And it shows up to soften my pillow every single night. Sometimes I forget. Then I remember ... and life just gets so much more beautiful. 

Thanks to you, Grace

grateful & hopeful

Setting: 180 W about 30 minutes ago. A terrible 3-car crash, two vehicles pretty bad most likely with minor injured drivers, one flipped upside down.

Humanity, at its best, immediately swung into action. About a dozen men, some construction workers, some from their vehicles, showed up with tools from random trunks, using tire irons as crow bars trying to free the passenger(s) of the flipped vehicle.

Humanity, at its worst, in the truck directly behind me: Crazy man yelling, "F. F. F. The whole f-ing highway!?!?! You gotta take up the whole f-ing highway? Come on, m-f-ers!!" This continued for some time and I simply could not, could NOT, hold my tongue. I calmly (seriously, I was quite calm) walked to his vehicle and informed him, just in case he couldn't see what was happening up ahead, that there were passengers pinned and people were trying to help. Crazy man: "I KNOW, but the whole f-ing highway!?!?! Look at all these people!!! Everybody's gotta be a f-ing hero". I said, I mean I shouted, "YES! Thank goodness!" and walked back to my car. What I said didn't make an inkling of difference to crazy man. But it did to me, realizing my heart was substantially more grateful & hopeful this morning ... despite crazy man's lack of empathy/sympathy/compassion/human-ness.