Heroes Among Us

60: (December 2019)

With the recent passing of the winter solstice and the darkest day of the year, it is indeed getting a little lighter with each new day. It is during these days of relative darkness that I enjoy reflecting on some of the people who help bring a different kind of light to the world:

• First responders and EMTs who selflessly give of themselves, saving people’s lives.
• Children, who by virtue of being themselves remind us how to be spontaneous and playful.
• Strangers who take the time to pause and smile or otherwise share a bit of civility and humanity.
• Those who care for aging parents, who often live through years of debilitating illness and frailty.
• People who believe in the value of honesty and integrity and demonstrate it.
• Artists and musicians who show us fresh ways of seeing and experiencing the world.
• Environmental activists, farmers, backyard gardeners, and so many others who care for the earth, working to save life in all its forms.
• People who teach us to be gentle with ourselves and understand the value of laughter.
• Friends who take the time to listen.
• Pet owners who love their animals, giving them excellent care and treatment as family members.
• Doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, and aids who care for people who need physical and mental assistance.
• Parents who nurture and care for their children, committing to do so for a lifetime.
• People who go through serious accidents, war, or health traumas, emerging resilient, loving, forgiving, and grateful for the gift of life.

All of us experience brokenness at different times of our lives. In our brokenness, our hearts have the opportunity to be pieced back together in unique mosaics. I am grateful for all the people who provide shards of light that shine through those mosaics, helping hearts, in turn, to light the way for others.

40: (December 1999)

He is blond, handsome, I spend most of my time with him, and I love him irrationally, even though he infuriates me. He is our new puppy. We brought the fur ball into our lives primarily for our 9-year-old daughter. For years she suffered with debilitating allergies to many things,

including most animals. After a painstaking process of healing her body through a rigorous nutritional regime, the allergy specialist declared she was free from allergies. On the way home from the doctor’s office, we told our daughter, who had always yearned for a pet to cuddle, that she could have a dog. She deserved it.

Having a puppy meant I would be the main caretaker, since I am the one home most of the time. I have always been a bit squeamish with animals, so I braced myself for a challenging experience. For starters, our puppy chews on everything, all the time. I spend a good part of my days inserting dog toys into his mouth, but he gets bored and is ingenious at finding new parts of the house to nibble on instead.

In addition, he is not embracing the housebreaking idea. I make countless trips outdoors, day and night, taking the puppy to his “spot.” Nevertheless, he has an astonishing ability to have accidents in the house on a regular basis. More than one friend has commented that God makes babies and puppies so adorable so that we will still put up with them. Indeed, his endearing “Who me?” look has saved his life on more than one occasion.

The amount of work the puppy requires has not been a surprise, but the feelings of love I have for the dog have been startling. There is something wholly irresistible about a puppy’s unabashed need for love and affection, and its complete sense of trust, summoning us to love unselfishly and without bounds. My favorite times together are rainy nights on the couch, when our puppy is likely to quiet his wiggling body and snooze on my lap. His total contentment blankets me with a quiet peace, nothing lacking in these moments of harmony. Who would have guessed that I, the person least likely to own a pet and most likely to be afraid of anything furry, would find such joy through my relationship with this beast?

One morning, my daughter held the puppy in her lap and said, “You know why I couldn’t think of anything I wanted for Christmas when people asked me? Because now that I have him, I have everything in the world I could ever want.” And that alone makes it all worthwhile.

60-40:

At the end of each year, as we pivot into the next year of possibilities, I choose to focus on hope. Hope for a safer world. A saner world. Hope for the health of our planet. There are so many good people out there who fan the flames of that hope, day in and day out.

May furry friends and the everyday heroes you’ve encountered throughout the year bring you a sense of peace and joy. Happy New Year!