Just One More

 

Pic: Doss on top of the Maeda Escarpment, May 4, 1945

I have spent a portion of my adult life, volunteering and generally trying to improve the lives of those less fortunate than myself. Some of my time has been very rewarding, and a little of it a waste of my life.

I had a slight downside though. One June 29 202X, on a Thursday, I woke up feeling like someone pounded my hips and shoulders with a sledge hammer. The pain became so bad, I resorted to CBD Cream, which was a literal lifesaver. I never wish that much pain on anyone. It took almost five months before I felt relatively pain free. Turns out it was a reaction to a common medication.

During those days of pain, and today, as I reflect on my day and pray before sleep, I stole a a line from Desmond Doss: "Just one more." Desmond Doss was awarded the Medal Of Honor for Bravery. He did not carry a weapon, Desmond Doss was a medic in World War II. You can read about Desmond Doss here, or if you can find it, watch the movie, Hacksaw Ridge.

Not that I will ever be on the the same level as Desmond Doss, though many nights I go to sleep thinking there must be something good I can do for another person. I find many things are easy to do. Smile and say hello, Hold the door open for someone, pick up some trash on the ground and put it in a waste can, by toys from the second hand store and leave it on a kid's doorstep whose family's money has bigger priorities. 

I leave bags of food and such in front of the local church where people more needy than myself walk by. I put a not inside, urging them to spend a few minutes with a quiet mind and listen for the voice of God to speak to them. It takes some time to do this, because it takes time to learn how to quiet our mind. What you hear (for me at least) is the impression of a word or two, not a sentence. I hope they do better.

I hope all these little things add up, and I manage to make someone's day better. Telling a young Mom, she is Mother of the month because she takes time for her child no matter where she is at. Thank a Vet for his service, acknowledging the importance of his/her contribution.  The idea of making someones day a little better, because someone helped them, acknowledged them, or fed them for a few days may encourage them to pass it on, and think, "Just one more"...

The Hippie Movement Meant to Make the World a Better Place

As I grow older, it I notice subtle signs we have made some progress towards making society better for all people. It's also apparent that making the society we want to have is not going to happen.

The Hippie movement of the Sixties was the last major movement to remake society into something better. The Hippie movement had a lifespan of about ten years more or less before it collapsed onto itself with the help of both internal and external forces.

As with other attempts at improving the world, the Communes of the Hippies became uncontrollable when the commune population went past a hundred or so people.

Until recently I would wonder why people in my neighborhood/city/state/country are not respectful of others once they leave their immediate neighborhoods. 

Now I know it is Human nature. I used to be angry about, but now I reflect on religion. God before Jesus could not make people good citizens. Jesus has had a better impact, but progress is at a trickle, and subject to backsliding on a whim.

I believe the best we can hope for is for each of us to do our best, be our best, and hopefully leave the world better than we found it.