I had an interesting evening last night. Mike and I were preparing to leave for a camping trip this week but I left in the middle of our work to attend a memorial service for a dear friend. Since I got home rather late, I still had quite a bit to do so that we might leave for our destination this morning. I tuned in to all of the election coverage to see how the different candidates from the two parties were doing. It was almost midnight before I finally went to bed. 

I thought of the peace that my friend is now experiencing and contrasted it with the craziness of the current election cycle. She doesn’t have to worry about such things any longer and I found myself wondering if I worry about them too much. After all, we are not here on this earth for an infinite amount of time. I suppose that we need to get as much out of life as we can while we have the opportunity.

The pastor who hosted the memorial service was quite wonderful. I totally understood why my friend would have enjoyed attending his church and hearing his sermons. He was so honest and loving about who she really was as a person. He pointed out that the two of them often engaged in long discussions about life and faith. They both believed that every human needs three things: a purpose, love, and something to look forward to. Those who feel lost are often missing one of those aspects of humanity. 

In spite of the many trials of her life, my friend found what she was searching for in her faith. The people of her church truly loved her even though she was admittedly sometimes difficult. She was a long time member of the music ministry which gave her own life great purpose and meaning even as it sometimes appeared to be falling apart. She enjoyed the rehearsals with like minded friends and the Sunday worship was a source of great joy for her. It made her feel part of something bigger than herself and her troubles. The parishioners reciprocated to her gift of music by watching over her and encouraging her even when she was down.

I’ve found that there are so many people who are generous of spirit. I have another friend who is engaged in many enormous personal battles right now. Just as she was starting a new chapter in her life, things came crashing down on her. She had moved to a new town where the only person that she knew was her husband. Shortly after they arrived he had a stroke and she has been all but living at the hospital while trying to set up a household to take him to when he is well. Her bills have overwhelmed her and she has struggled just to find enough money for the most basic necessities. The people of a local church heard about her plight and have adopted her. For weeks now they have helped her with donations of furniture, food, and prayers. They insist that she call them whenever she has any need. She is overwhelmed by their generosity of these strangers and although she has never been a particularly religious person, she is realizing that God Himself may have led her to this very kind group of people. 

Against the backdrop of the political battles that are currently being fought in our country I find myself considering how many individuals feel disenfranchised simply because they are lacking in one or more of the essentials needed to find a meaningful life. There are so many souls who have a lack of purpose or who feel unloved. Their lives are measured by desperation which makes it almost impossible for them to sense that they have anything to look forward to. Perhaps our politicians need to consider the possibility that the real answers to society’s woes might be found in fixes that are more deeply personal than throwing money at one cause or another. 

When I was still working in schools I often found that the most troubled children were those who were being abused at home. They came to school angry and quite frankly were so disruptive that they were difficult to love. Nonetheless, if they found even one ally who believed in them and challenged them to fight the odds that were stacked against them they began to bloom and blossom. Virtually every educator has dozens and dozens of stories of children with whom they connected who went on to do wondrous things. We need way more mentors, not to give things to our youth but to show them that there are people who care about them and to provide them with encouragement as they try to find a place in society.

Just before Christmas I attended the First Communion of a man whom I have known since he was a boy. His life had taken a bad turn and he had found himself feeling alone and confused. He thought of a dear friend who had always seemed so happy. She had been a director of religious education at her church. The two of them had often talked about faith and ministry. She died a few years back but he kept those conversations that he had with her in his heart. He decided to investigate her faith and enrolled in classes to learn more. His journey filled him with a peace that he had not heretofore possessed. Those moments when his friend had shown him kindness and understanding stayed with him and brought him to a place of healing.

More than anything we need to provide opportunities to feel needed for everyone. We can’t create a one size fits all system that only leads to college. Sometimes the happiness that someone seeks is found on a farm or in a skilled trade. Mostly it is the act of giving all Americans a reason for getting up each morning, whether it be to do corporal works of mercy or to launch a career. There is nothing more horrific than having nothing to do. Boredom eats at the soul. 

I have a cousin who is battling a disease that could potentially leave her blind. Rather than waiting for the shoe to drop, she has seized the moment to develop an artistic talent that she never realized that she had. She has gone from taking art classes to opening a gallery and being featured in a local magazine. She might have decided to sit at home worrying about how much time was left but instead she chose to live her life as fully as she might. She is a courageous soul.

So many today believe that our world is on the verge of cataclysm. Evil lurks around every corner. There is so much despair and yet the good people of Iowa taught us last night that there is still hope. They turned out in record numbers to do their civic duty and regardless of how they decided to use their votes, the fact that they chose to stand up for their beliefs fills me with optimism. It tells me that we aren’t quite yet ready to say farewell to our United States. We are talking and thinking and doing our best as citizens to set things right and that is very good. Let us not forget those who believe that they no longer have a voice as we make our decisions regarding who will be best to lead us into the next decade of the twenty first century. We also need to remember that we can’t leave it all to the politicians. The most dramatic changes come from our own efforts to help another soul truly feel loved, purposeful, and expectant.