Life As We Have Known Has Changed
As we all know, life as we have known has changed. In the last 8-9 months, friends and neighbor maybe even ourselves have lost jobs, lost retirements, maybe even lost homes. The economy is falling apart and it seems that the world is falling apart at the seams.
As I have lived my life and studied the history of past generations it seems to me that every period of time has had some type of hardship that they have had to face and overcome. As I have studied these past generations it has occurred to me that here has been one important factor that has always brought us out of our troubled time. That one factor is the genuine goodness of people. Not long ago as I was standing in line at the grocery store where I saw a young women with two small children. As it came time to pay it was evident that she did not have quite enough money to pay for her bill. What happened next was most astonishing to me. There was a young man in his 20's that was next in line that immediately stepped up and paid not only the difference, but her entire bill. It was not a large amount, but significant enough that I was surprised that he had the cash to pay it. What was even more amazing to me was after the young lady thanked him and left, the young man quietly excused himself as if he had forgotten to get something. As I was walking out the door I followed this young man and it was apparent that he had given the money that he had intended to use for his groceries to help someone in need as he had no groceries with him.
Last week my wife brought home a new CD by Hilary Weeks that has a song on it that really stuck me hard. It was written by Ty Lacy and Steve Siler
Somebody's down to their last dime
Somebody's running out of time not too far from here
Somebody's got no where else to go
Somebody needs a little hope not too far from here
And I may not know their name but I'm praying just the same
That you will use me Lord to wipe a tear
'Cause somebody's crying not too far from here
Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
Somebody's dying for love not too far from here
It may be a stranger's face but I am praying for Your Grace
To move in me and take away the fear not too far from here
Help me Lord not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep
Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
And somebody's dying for love not too far from here.
Now I'm letting down my guard and I'm opening my heart
Help me speak Your love to every needful ear
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Wouldn't it be nice if we all became a little more aware of those around us and less aware of our own problems? My hope is that I might become more like the young man at the super market and give when it is not convenient to give.
As I have lived my life and studied the history of past generations it seems to me that every period of time has had some type of hardship that they have had to face and overcome. As I have studied these past generations it has occurred to me that here has been one important factor that has always brought us out of our troubled time. That one factor is the genuine goodness of people. Not long ago as I was standing in line at the grocery store where I saw a young women with two small children. As it came time to pay it was evident that she did not have quite enough money to pay for her bill. What happened next was most astonishing to me. There was a young man in his 20's that was next in line that immediately stepped up and paid not only the difference, but her entire bill. It was not a large amount, but significant enough that I was surprised that he had the cash to pay it. What was even more amazing to me was after the young lady thanked him and left, the young man quietly excused himself as if he had forgotten to get something. As I was walking out the door I followed this young man and it was apparent that he had given the money that he had intended to use for his groceries to help someone in need as he had no groceries with him.
Last week my wife brought home a new CD by Hilary Weeks that has a song on it that really stuck me hard. It was written by Ty Lacy and Steve Siler
Somebody's down to their last dime
Somebody's running out of time not too far from here
Somebody's got no where else to go
Somebody needs a little hope not too far from here
And I may not know their name but I'm praying just the same
That you will use me Lord to wipe a tear
'Cause somebody's crying not too far from here
Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
Somebody's dying for love not too far from here
It may be a stranger's face but I am praying for Your Grace
To move in me and take away the fear not too far from here
Help me Lord not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep
Somebody's troubled and confused
Somebody's got nothing left to lose not too far from here
Somebody's forgotten how to trust
And somebody's dying for love not too far from here.
Now I'm letting down my guard and I'm opening my heart
Help me speak Your love to every needful ear
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Wouldn't it be nice if we all became a little more aware of those around us and less aware of our own problems? My hope is that I might become more like the young man at the super market and give when it is not convenient to give.