26-05-2014, 10:13 PM
As I occasionally keep an eye on this thread, the only thing that keeps coming to mind is dear old Granny admonishing someone to "get down off that cross, boy! We need the wood!"
There are a billion people on this planet who don't have enough to eat, or safe water to drink. A half billion basically live in open pit sewers. There are places where children have to dodge land mines to play outside. Poverty, famine, and disease are the status quo in many places.
Today, of course, is the day we remember those who have fallen in war. It truly does sadden me to see so many young lives wrecked. I'm tired of seeing amputees come home to replace the bright-futured young men who left. There are so many people with so many struggles that it seems utterly ludicrous for me to complain about anything at all.
I count my blessings instead. I have my health, a roof over my head, a full freezer, a garden, good friends and family, ... I could go on and on. Oh sure, there are struggles, but life would be boring without struggles. Life -- God -- the Universe -- whatever you call it -- has been good to me.
Gender issues? Hah! At least 3 billion people on this planet would happily trade their problems for mine. Or anyone else in this thread, for that matter. "First World Problems" is the meme going around.
None of this is to belittle anyone's individual struggles. Everything that's hard is hard. Everyone has their own closet, their own pains, their own cross to bear; it's not appropriate or useful to compare them for intensity or difficulty.
Rather, I feel it's good to every so often sit back and count the good things. Not only does it bring perspective, but the spirit of gratitude all by itself is good for the attitude, the soul, and the body. And who knows, maybe a little perspective turns some things we thought were curses, into blessings.
There are a billion people on this planet who don't have enough to eat, or safe water to drink. A half billion basically live in open pit sewers. There are places where children have to dodge land mines to play outside. Poverty, famine, and disease are the status quo in many places.
Today, of course, is the day we remember those who have fallen in war. It truly does sadden me to see so many young lives wrecked. I'm tired of seeing amputees come home to replace the bright-futured young men who left. There are so many people with so many struggles that it seems utterly ludicrous for me to complain about anything at all.
I count my blessings instead. I have my health, a roof over my head, a full freezer, a garden, good friends and family, ... I could go on and on. Oh sure, there are struggles, but life would be boring without struggles. Life -- God -- the Universe -- whatever you call it -- has been good to me.
Gender issues? Hah! At least 3 billion people on this planet would happily trade their problems for mine. Or anyone else in this thread, for that matter. "First World Problems" is the meme going around.
None of this is to belittle anyone's individual struggles. Everything that's hard is hard. Everyone has their own closet, their own pains, their own cross to bear; it's not appropriate or useful to compare them for intensity or difficulty.
Rather, I feel it's good to every so often sit back and count the good things. Not only does it bring perspective, but the spirit of gratitude all by itself is good for the attitude, the soul, and the body. And who knows, maybe a little perspective turns some things we thought were curses, into blessings.