So I guess I changed everything

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Generally I think it is a good idea not to assume too much about the impact that one makes on the world around them. I think it would be pretty accurate to say that what I DO in any given day matters very little in the scope of the universe. That is realistic. Humbling. And realistic. However, there is also a Biblical paradoxical truth that clearly states that all human life has divine purpose and plan, and through unseen means each of our mere existence may drastically change the course of the lives of each person we encounter. And we don't know how. Maybe we catch a glimpse of it – but we never really know.

This weekend I caught a glimpse of how I may have changed everything. Jarod worked all labor day weekend out at Bethesda and the long hours and managerial position don't really suit him well. But I saw that when the children were present his job changed. The joy he found from merely having Lucy on the golf cart with him or Jude at the guys “movie night” changed a responsibility into a privilege. I mean, who gets paid to hang out with their children? And whose co-workers love your children the way each of the men love ours? As he cleaned the pool the children and David swirled around him in laughter and what would have been a task taking time away from family became an excuse to be with his children. And as we enjoyed our family time together – as we fried apple rings with the men and chatted over meals – I caught a glimpse of my own childhood from my parents perspective. I realized that as parents, my parent's job at Bethesda afforded them joys unimaginable and for those 20 years that I was around the job that kept them CONSTANTLY at home and CONSTANTLY active was a blessing. Then I left. And like the lights going out in a room – everything that was freedom to stay home became a cage that kept my parents from their “own” life. I was just born and I just left – and I didn't get it at all until this weekend. Perhaps if I wasn't. Had never been – my parents would not have had the energy and joy to do the work they did for 35 years. Perhaps if I had stayed they would still have the energy and joy to do it still. If I had just stayed 3, sitting on the golf cart laughing with David, that would have been the best thing I could have ever done with my life. My existence can give others ability. My children's existence is doing the same for me. They are a gift. Their being is my ability to do. To enjoy.

We telephoned 3 different handicapped men over the weekend, all of which still live at home with their parents, to invite them to a picnic. One of them couldn't come because he had to “care for his mother.” All of their parents are old now; frail and perhaps should live in a nursing home, but their handicapped children enable them to live at home. And I wondered, how many older people who have raised smart children to go and DO in this world wish now their children would just BE with them at home? How many of us have forgotten our first ability – our existence as improving the lives of others.

It's just my thought for today. Just my hope for tomorrow. That I may still BE joy in the lives of others, giving them energy to love the life they live. And that I may enjoy the gift of those around me, and not realize all the energy an ability they gave me just by BEING in my life only after they are gone.

So that' my thought. Who's life is your being giving energy and ability to, and who are you receiving from regularly without even knowing it? I'd love to hear about it.

Happy labor day... but don't forget his yoke is easy, his burden is light.