Upcoming Attractions (April 30th)

Wazzup? — Why 'Eye of Mike' been so long in the making.  And why I've closed the group to public comments.  Don't like it?  Here's what you can do.

The Week That Was: #17 of 2017 — Each week I'll reflect on my experiences & the lessons I learned.  Might be a lot, or maybe not much at all.  But in the recent past:  Death on the NICU?  (Yes, we were right there, crying with the family!)  Encounters with the mentally ill?  (It happened unexpectedly on my Ride-Along with Albuquerque's police.)  Helping the homeless?  (I talk to them often, doing what I can.  Can  you say the same?)  Lawbreakers?  (Petty thieves or convicted felons, I do my best to foster positive change to turn their lives around.)

We're 'Hardwired' For Stupid! — What helping us survive on the Serengeti is not always so helpful in today's increasingly global, industrial, technological environment.  Beware!

Trump is Evil: What to Do About It! — Two weeks ago, after more than six months of introspection & epiphanies, I finally said publicly what I'd concluded long ago.  Don't think Evil exists in the world?  I'll make my case that it does.

Decency Triumphs. — Fame, fortune, and power?  Meh!

Brother Boehner, Where Art Thou? — I cry often.  It's not a weakness.

I'm Not Angry About 'Losing' — Why I'm angry and alarmed, and why you should be, too.

A Little Girl — My Moral Anchor

It was a cold, breezy, cloudy, rainy day.  All the oh-so-common ingredients for feeling dreary.  But instead, it was another blessing in life.  A moment to cherish.

I was walking with my 18-month-old granddaughter.  She looked at the world in amazement, taking in all the sights and sensations.  I gazed at her and smiled.

For a few minutes, I put behind my other "priorities" and petty concerns to focus on human connections, compassion, caring.  In that moment, I saw in Vivian's face the faces of others who are not so fortunate.  Starving children in South Sudan.  War-ravaged children across Syria.  Yes, even impoverished children of back-roads Appalachia.  And I feel the grief of those parents far away.  (I cry* often.)

I reflect on the many advantages and benefits I have.  By and large, a relatively peaceful and safe society (despite #FAKENEWS to the contrary).  Plentiful food, clean water, clean air (for the time being).  A close and caring community of family, friends, and neighbors.

And in contemplating the challenges that so many others face, I find some respite from my anger** about the 2016 election results.  I remind myself that we have far more in common than we recognize — or care to admit.

It's not that Vivian is more special than my other grandchildren, that I love them any less.  But Vivian's rough start to life, the timing of her birth, the challenges she's presented to her parents, and my fortunate capacity to lend a helping hand are all reasons to reflect on what's important in life.

And that brings me back to seeing others in a compassionate light.

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* Brother Boehner, Where Art Thou? — to be posted soon
** I'm Not Angry About 'Losing' — to be posted soon