Special Delivery

Have you considered the difference between how we pick up and deliver money as opposed to how we pick up and deliver school children?

The armored car rolls up to the office or bank. One armed guard goes in while another carefully watches for trouble. The money is carefully transferred in or out of the truck. The vehicle is massive, bullet proof, and contains mostly sacks of paper.

School kids are sent to wait on the corner for a dull old bus with no seat belts. The bus is stuffed full of little children. They are disgorged at the school to walk about and find their classroom on their own.

Now I suppose it is true that money is stolen more often than children. I just can't shake the feeling that there is more to the story than that.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I awoke after an especially good sleep and a happy Sunday. I was in an insufferably good mood. It was the sort of mood where you just wish you had a way of letting everyone else in on the story of how great life can be and how the right attitude is everything.

Today I awoke after a short, broken night of sleep. I was insufferably moody. I couldn't wait to tell my closest loved ones how they had betrayed me and fallen short of my needs. It felt like life was full of pain and promised to go on and on for far too long.

I don't know what mood to expect tomorrow. After many, many lessons I have learned that life goes on, regardless of my mood. I am called to love others, regardless of my mood. I want to be more like God, regardless of my mood. I can only hope that on days like today, God sees some me care just a little for others in the midst of my self pity. I also hope that on days like yesterday, others can believe that I care about them in the midst of my reveling over my own good fortune.

Stranger

I know a guy who suddenly found himself flat on his back and helpless in a country he had never seen before, among a people whose language he couldn't speak. He was so weak that he couldn't even lift his head to look around.

He would have died had it not been for the kindness of strangers who fed him and helped him gain the strength to get up and move around. Twenty four hour care was required . It was months before he could even stand, much less make a trip to the bathroom. Although the guy is reasonably bright, he really struggled to learn the language and customs of the folks who cared for him. It was several years before he could communicate effectively with them.

Now, many years later, he remains very grateful to those who showed him such kindness.

I know because, I am that guy. I don't remember much of the earliest years. But my birth certificate says that it all started in Fort Worth, Texas in 1950. I'm glad I didn't pop out in Roswell, NM. I might just be a lab specimen to this day!