Happy Hump Day, All!
Wednesday is one of my favorite days of the week because it signifies the half-way or “hump” mark. It is the little things that make me happy . . . like someone saying “Thank You” when you hold the door for them. Now, don’t take it wrong, that I hold the door so that someone can say “thank you” or anything else to me, but because that is what I was taught by my father, in particular, that you do when someone’s hands are full, or it is a woman or a child or a person in a wheel chair or something like that and they obviously could use your help holding the door. Other times, I just do it out of common courtesy, to make things flow easier, and, because it makes me feel good anyway.
Over these recent years, and some of you may remember, I had lost verbal contact with my daughter and only child. In fact, the last time I spoke with her face to face was at my mother’s funeral over 6 years ago now. The loss was great for me, especially spiritually, and she – Ayanna – and her mother attended the “second” funeral in White Plains, NY at Bethel Baptist Church, as the first one was held in the FTL at Mount Olive where she and my sister used to attend services. I appreciated her being there; yet, afterwards, as families “do”, we lost contact.
Well, last weekend, since we had become internet friends on Facebook now for about two months, sharing photos and niceties, she sent me a message which included her phone number suggesting we should talk. I replied and sent my number as well. So, Monday night . . . we talked! It was nice to hear her voice after so many years, and we filled in the blanks for each other and agreed to stay in touch. Peace be still . . .
There is a story you may remember about Michael Brewer who was set on fire by three teens last year over a bike or a bet or something worth around $40-50.00. He would have lost his life if he hadn’t jumped in a nearby pool to extinguish the flames from rubbing alcohol and a spark from a cigarette lighter. What shocked me was when they showed the youngster’s confession who had the lighter. He said, “I was standing there with the lighter in my hand close to him but not touching him. Then, it lit and he caught on fire! I was the last one there because the others started running and I didn’t know whether to run or not and to stay and help him.” It is as if he doesn’t remember flicking the lighter and had an even harder time determining if he should run or not …. and he decided to run anyway. Kids, teens in particular, need some help in determining what is right and wrong and HOW to do the right thing in that instant. Similarly, the kid who opened fire two weeks ago on innocent students at the Ohio high school has a lawyer who says that the kid can’t imagine himself NOW in the middle of something like that.
Now, just yesterday, there was a sad story of “road rage” gone wild in Coral Springs, FL. An ex-marine who is a co-owner of a mixed martial arts school lost his mind at a traffic light. Yes, this soldier had served two terms in Iraq, came home and successfully started a business teaching mixed fighting arts. He was behind a car at a traffic light in Coral Springs when the car in front of him did not see the light change. So, he got out of his car . . . with his pistol in hand . . . whipped the driver in the face. The passenger got out to ask him to stop but the ex-Marine pistol whipped the passenger in the face and began to thrust his knee and feet into the face of the defenseless passenger breaking multiple facial bones . . . Woe is he! … and the passengers!
“A controller doesn’t trust his/her ability to live through the pain and chaos of life. There is no life without pain just as there is no art without submitting to chaos.” – Rita Mae Brown
Today, I will submit to the insecurity of a changing universe and have faith that I can live through the process and grow. (TOUCHSTONES March 7th)
Have a peaceful day, please ….
Educational Excellence 