Gratitude for the Light

I am thankful for this moment for no matter how dark as it may be I am reminded of how grateful that I am for the perspective that gives me even more appreciation for the light. In the last week tragedy has touched my community, family, friends and neighbors. Three incidents that would be considered ‘circumstantial’ should I be so naïve to believe that their relation and the subsequent realization of my gratitude were not impacted enough to drive me to share this realization with you.

I begin with family for that is where I will also end. My brother-in-law, Thomas had only narrowly escaped the tragic accident caused by a brush fire and foggy conditions with negligible visibility on 441 just outside of town. He escaped so narrowly that the glass from a bus colliding into a tractor trailer was showered into the bed of his truck as he steered to dodge yet another collision. His truck and person were remarkably unscathed. His friends who were in a vehicle behind him were hospitalized but not severly injured and their vehicle was totaled. There were 11 people that lost their lives in that accident and some 20+ were hospitalized.

Across the street on the following day my neighbor did not wake from his sleep. His body had been in a slow shut down as the last stages of cancer ate away his vitality and graciously let him pass peacefully on his favorite chair as his life friend and roommate stayed with him in company. I can’t see this as a tragic event. Cancer is a difficult death and his passing was as peaceful as it could possibly have been. He had time to reflect and come to terms to prepare for the next stage of existence whatever it may be. I wish him the best and my heart goes out to my neighbor for the loss of the physical body he had known as the home base for his friend.

A close friend learned yesterday that her grandmother had been hospitalized and is now recovering from a stroke. My friend told me that her left side is paralyzed and she will no longer be as remembered from memories of the past. We seldom are as we are remembered in memories, Love. This does not mean she has lost anything that has made her who she is. She’s still strong, still aware. She’s just having a few communication issues with her body at the moment. It was a scary moment and there are some difficulties to work out. But, she’s still here and there’s still time to make even more memories.

In these few days I have taken a survey of my own blessings. I’m determined to be grateful for every moment I have with my family and friends. I’m grateful for my health and the health of those around me. I offer that which I can spare to lending moments of happiness to share as often as I can. I choose to see this moment as a reminder that every moment should be treasured for what it offers, hope. As long as we’re paying attention, we have a chance to learn to live.