Just a few thoughts

 Elise and Andy have been with us for the last two weeks.  We don't get to see them often enough, but when they're here we fill the time with lots of fun.

Nan reminded me in her letter that my mom passed away on the 24th of July in 2004.  I miss her a lot.  It's hard when you have questions and you can't call your parents anymore.  

There were a couple of things that happened this past week that were devastating to various people.  Paul Roberts (Sara Christensen's husband) lost his dad.  He was on W. Parish Lane in Centerville riding his bike with his 17 year-old daughter when they were both hit by a drunk driver that didn't even slow down.  The 17 year-old is expected to survive.  Also, in a home just down the street, another man who was high, entered into an open garage door and demanded money of a couple in their's 70's.  When they said they had no money, the man attacked them both.  Then he started their house on fire with gasoline he carried in with him.  They had to get their aging father out of the basement before it burned.  Their home is right by our meeting house.  

There were two other experiences to relate that didn't carry dire consequences, but were unsettling just the same.  On our way home from Flaming Gorge, we stopped at Mountain View Drive-In.  We had Mav and Max with us.  They were standing by the drink machine and a man walked over to get his drink.  He was clearly irriated that they were standing there, even though they weren't in his way.  I had anticipated that he wanted in a drink so I was kindly pulling them towards me.  He still had to show his irriation by asking them to "move" and not in a patient way.  A few minutes later I went over to stand by Roy to wait for our food.  He again walked by and acted very put out that he had to walk a step or two around us.  

The other experience happened to Roy when he and Caitlyn went for a bike ride on Saturday morning.  There happened to be a 5K or something going on on the trail, but there were no rules against riders or walkers not participating in the race.  They approached a runner who was ahead of them.  She was purposely weaving back and forth on the trail so as not to allow them to pass.  Roy nicely said, "On your right."  Instead of moving and allowing them space to get by, she proceeded to swear at them as if she owned the trail since she was in the race.  They had to pass her on their way back, too.  She was very unpleasant.  My point is this:  How hard is it to just be kind?  Some people must be very miserable to treat strangers with such hatred.  

Since Covid our world has seemed to deteriorate in the way that people treat others.  Morality has also skydived in the last few years.  It is obvious to me that we need to make even more of an effort to love others.  Those we don't know, yes, but especially those who are close to us.  This can even be more difficult.  It's also hard to admit when you're wrong.  Sometimes you have to do this even when you are right!  

I challenge all of you to treat someone kindly today.  

One positive experience.  Roy was ministering to a single woman (about age 40) who lived with her parents.  He would often take a meal to the whole family since her parents were struggling with poor health.  One day (I think he had actually been released as her minister by this time), he took by a loaf of homemade bread.  The mother answered the door.  She began to cry as she told Roy how much she appreciated his efforts.  Sadly, we are attending her husband's funeral this coming weekend.  After she finished all her cancer treatments, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away within the month.  Gratefully, Roy had made the effort while he could.  He is always a great example to me of service and love.