The past days have been days of faith,
prayer and even hope all under a shroud of sadness.
A week ago I learned of the death by
his own hand of one whose family is dear to me.
Then this last weekend an acquaintance
whom I greatly admire accidentally, while driving, hit and killed a
small child. The little boy was the son of friends.
Each of these lives were fragile,
tenuous, and precious.
Each life is truly fragile, tenuous and
precious.
My life is touched by many individuals
and groups. Who is less important than me? Who is more important than
me? Do I owe another anything?...
As I see my neighbors, bankers, sales
people, church goers, friends, family members, clerks, artists,
farmers, students, office workers, transportation workers, customers,
other drivers, children, older people ( not many of these any more...
I became the old one lots sooner than I expected...), I have been
poignantly reminded, especially this week, that each one is dear to
me. I wish to learn to accept each as they are at this minute without
appraisal, with love and respect. I wish in some way to
communicate that love and respect without intrusion
I too often see another as too
glamorous, too sloppy, too big, too skinny, too slow, too fast, too
smart, too dumb, too neat, too tattooed, too right, too wrong, too
rich, too poor, too religious, too sanctimonious, too worldly, or too
judgmental (a funny one...).
I feel that the manner we choose for
living counts. I choose to accept, respect, and count each life as
precious. I have great hope that I may become kinder, more accepting
of each one I meet, more appreciative of the battles that each faces,
more accepting and respectful.
