I always like to get my good deed for the day out of the way
early. If I can do something kind for
another, or help lighten someone else’s load I feel pretty good about myself
the rest of the day. The earlier in the day I do it, the longer I get to bask
in my self-generated glow. Narcissistic? Maybe, but’s it’s the way I roll, baby.
A lot of your more traditional
religious lessons were lost on me, but NOT the Golden Rule. Mom and Dad did a great job instilling that
one in me. It just seems right to treat
others the way you’d like to be treated.
That’s just common sense, right?
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if bullies decided to
treat others with the respect they themselves would like to enjoy? What could be the harm if we all did like my forefathers
and withheld judgment unless we walked a mile in another’s moccasins? How much better would our country be if
people who call themselves compassionate conservatives actually showed some
compassion for their fellow citizens of the world?
Something to think about I guess.
Today my good deed was easy.
While skating to the local supermarket for lunch at the chuckwagon outside
our local grocery store (hamburger, chips, pop, $2.25 proceeds and tips to
charity) I encountered a bicyclist who was lost. He flagged me down and apologized for interrupting
my skate but I didn’t mind. Truth be
told, my left foot was throbbing from a picnic induced injury I’d suffered the
day before so the chance to rest was a welcome break for me.
He explained that he was trying to follow his map but got
off of course and had been circling for a while. I couldn’t help but notice he had all of the
latest high tech gear; ultra-lightweight bike (probably cost at least what I
bring home in a month), platypus hydration system, lycra outfit, and his “map” was
an iPhone.
He wondered if I could tell him where Highway 169 was. Maybe it was that the sound barrier wall the department
of transportation had constructed concealed it so well. Or perhaps it was the proximity to noon that
precluded him from using shadows to determine basic compass points. Either way, I had to be tactful when telling
him he was only 20 feet from the highway he asked about. It seemed that my encouraging statement that,
“You’re a lot closer than you might think you are” was well received.
He told me where he’d been and where he wanted to go. I assured him I’d biked a good portion of the
trail he was about to travel. I gave him
directions with landmarks and wished him good luck and safe travels. He thanked me and sped away.
As I continued on my journey, I felt good about helping out
a fellow traveler and began to ponder the concept of being lost. My favorite story of being lost involves a
couple of old friends of mine.
Harry Broadfoot was the equipment manager for Gopher hockey
for a lot of years; he loves to fish, as does former Gopher hockey coach Doug
Woog. Harry typically fishes from shore
or a dock. Wooger typically fishes from
a boat in northern lakes where the big fish are plentiful.
Harry
tells of a fishing excursion he and Woog took in the coach’s boat one evening. With daylight gone and the boat’s lights losing
power and rapidly dimming, they motored along the shoreline of a lake that was
foreign to them both when Harry asked, “Doug, are we lost?” To which The Wooger, a man who successfully
lead a Division One hockey team as Head Coach for 15 years replied, “No, Harry,
we’re not lost, I’m just not sure where we’re at right now.” CLASSIC WOOG.
Again, something to think about.
What a refreshing way to view being “lost”. I really like Woog’s optimistic view that
having your bearings at less than 100%, at times, is not a reason to panic. Do any of us; in the grand scheme of this
journey we’re on, REALLY know where we’re at?
The Aztec calendar has the whole shooting match ending on December 23rd, 2012. Are we that close to the end? Who knows? I hope to make it that far and then farther yet. I’m having too much fun for the party to end so soon.
Some people think that a higher power has things all planned
out for us and all that happens is “HIS WILL”.
I’m not a big believer in that. I
may spend some time in hell for saying that, but if it were all predetermined
why would we all agonize over so many decisions throughout our lifetime; Being
lost and trying to find our way?
Tibetan Endless Knot symbolizing Karma
I think we each just need to find our own way by using the
technology we have (like my new cyclist friend) and the counsel of those who
have previously traveled the path (like me, my parents, and my octogenarian neighbor
Walt – who I was fortunate enough to visit with again today), give it our best effort, and know that if
you treat others well, they’ll treat you likewise.
All is NOT lost!
Who knew?
