Recent events have led me to leave my homework, and ponder as I try to sort out my thoughts. Please forgive me as I share some experiences.
Life is interesting. Lift is loving. Life is hard. How can anyone possibly hope to get through life without friends, family, and the gospel?
A couple of days ago I went to visit with a close friend who was recently in an accident. She has a severely broken knee and ankle, and a shattered wrist. As I was sitting there, listening to her as I rubbed her aching skin and muscles with lotion, I could feel her exhaustion coming through with every word and breath she took. I became again grateful for the use of my legs for everyday activity, and my arms, even though Carpal Tunnel is creeping back in at alarming rates.
That leads me to think more- the other day I was buying some groceries for my mom at Maceys in Provo. Two gallons of milk, and some sour cream. After mastering the self-checkout (yes!), I figured I could just take them out to my car in the hand basket thing I'd got them in. So I was loading my car with these groceries, and a woman I've never met before approaches me, and asks if I could give her a ride to DI across the street where her car is parked. She didn't seem like a threat to me, and I figured since I had time that I could, and said yes. She remarked several times during that ride that I was "one of the greenest persons she knew", because I didn't use plastic bags. I remarked that I really didn't have to use them; there were so few groceries, and she still said I was still one of the most economic people she'd met. I wasn't sure if that was really true, but I thought I'd just smile and leave it alone. I was comfortable to just listen to her talk, and she seemed to like talking herself, and told me about her daughter and how proud she was of her, and thanked me repeatedly for the ride, saying how the world has seemed to become more closed. She told me how even her daughter, who was once happy and bright towards everyone when she was younger was now becoming more reserved. She contemplated on how the world is becoming so different, to which I probably murmured some sort of positive response as I tried not to jostle us too much on the road bumps, and thought about how much I'd really like to go around the bumps, and how I didn't like parking lots. While she was talking, I did a lot of thinking. About what she was saying, and reflected on the world I grew up that has evolved into the one I'm currently living in. I dropped her off, and after waiting to make sure her car started, drove home up State Street.
I did a lot of thinking on that trip home. About that whole experience. I mean, I'd just given a complete stranger a ride in my car. And my thoughts on the way home revolved upon that, and how I'd considered her at first as not a threat, and how I'd come to that conclusion in a two-second glance. I suppose it was my judgment, that she wouldn't hurt me, and...something. Something told me it would be okay. As she was talking and mentioned her daughter attending Institute and wanting to attend BYU, I suspected she was LDS, although never asked. Not that it should have made a difference. Anyhow. There's my experience that I'm not sure should be brought across as a "Good Samaritan", because...I don't know why.
I read three books over the weekend. Different plots, different writers. None of them terribly thick material, although sometimes it became deep in emotion. But one in particular is coming to mind, by Anita Stansfield called By Love and Grace. I'm not going to explain it because it's not pertinent right now. But it was really, really sad. Made my heart ache, and caused me to think. About my reactions, and people's approaches, and life. That was backwards, I know, forgive me. Dan Yates wrote Call me Angel which was humerous but made me wish it was more openly LDS. Also made me think. The last one, Saving Kristen by Jack Weyland made me reflect on my life, circumstances and career choice.
These books prepared me, but I didn't know how much or quickly they would. My friends told me things about their lives today, and without losing their confidences, has made me grateful for the things I have, and caused my heart to sorrow. Sigh. So this is me telling someone about it, without saying anything.
For those who are hurting, I can't tell you enough how sorry I am. Thank you for sharing. ...You've led me to think. I'm praying for you.
Life is interesting. Lift is loving. Life is hard. How can anyone possibly hope to get through life without friends, family, and the gospel?
A couple of days ago I went to visit with a close friend who was recently in an accident. She has a severely broken knee and ankle, and a shattered wrist. As I was sitting there, listening to her as I rubbed her aching skin and muscles with lotion, I could feel her exhaustion coming through with every word and breath she took. I became again grateful for the use of my legs for everyday activity, and my arms, even though Carpal Tunnel is creeping back in at alarming rates.
That leads me to think more- the other day I was buying some groceries for my mom at Maceys in Provo. Two gallons of milk, and some sour cream. After mastering the self-checkout (yes!), I figured I could just take them out to my car in the hand basket thing I'd got them in. So I was loading my car with these groceries, and a woman I've never met before approaches me, and asks if I could give her a ride to DI across the street where her car is parked. She didn't seem like a threat to me, and I figured since I had time that I could, and said yes. She remarked several times during that ride that I was "one of the greenest persons she knew", because I didn't use plastic bags. I remarked that I really didn't have to use them; there were so few groceries, and she still said I was still one of the most economic people she'd met. I wasn't sure if that was really true, but I thought I'd just smile and leave it alone. I was comfortable to just listen to her talk, and she seemed to like talking herself, and told me about her daughter and how proud she was of her, and thanked me repeatedly for the ride, saying how the world has seemed to become more closed. She told me how even her daughter, who was once happy and bright towards everyone when she was younger was now becoming more reserved. She contemplated on how the world is becoming so different, to which I probably murmured some sort of positive response as I tried not to jostle us too much on the road bumps, and thought about how much I'd really like to go around the bumps, and how I didn't like parking lots. While she was talking, I did a lot of thinking. About what she was saying, and reflected on the world I grew up that has evolved into the one I'm currently living in. I dropped her off, and after waiting to make sure her car started, drove home up State Street.
I did a lot of thinking on that trip home. About that whole experience. I mean, I'd just given a complete stranger a ride in my car. And my thoughts on the way home revolved upon that, and how I'd considered her at first as not a threat, and how I'd come to that conclusion in a two-second glance. I suppose it was my judgment, that she wouldn't hurt me, and...something. Something told me it would be okay. As she was talking and mentioned her daughter attending Institute and wanting to attend BYU, I suspected she was LDS, although never asked. Not that it should have made a difference. Anyhow. There's my experience that I'm not sure should be brought across as a "Good Samaritan", because...I don't know why.
I read three books over the weekend. Different plots, different writers. None of them terribly thick material, although sometimes it became deep in emotion. But one in particular is coming to mind, by Anita Stansfield called By Love and Grace. I'm not going to explain it because it's not pertinent right now. But it was really, really sad. Made my heart ache, and caused me to think. About my reactions, and people's approaches, and life. That was backwards, I know, forgive me. Dan Yates wrote Call me Angel which was humerous but made me wish it was more openly LDS. Also made me think. The last one, Saving Kristen by Jack Weyland made me reflect on my life, circumstances and career choice.
These books prepared me, but I didn't know how much or quickly they would. My friends told me things about their lives today, and without losing their confidences, has made me grateful for the things I have, and caused my heart to sorrow. Sigh. So this is me telling someone about it, without saying anything.
For those who are hurting, I can't tell you enough how sorry I am. Thank you for sharing. ...You've led me to think. I'm praying for you.
