Godspeed is wished for hero John Glenn

Godspeed, John Glenn.

Another of our heroes died this week. His name was synonymous with the good and decent man he was. He served his country as a Marine, an astronaut and a senator. More importantly, in this day of distrust and division, he loved his wife and his country. I know of no scandal associated with his name.

How many of those we put on pedestals today can say that? No, today we seem to be obsessed with outrageous statements backed by not even the illusion of truth. The more intolerant the message, the more it is repeated and believed until it seems that the world is indeed a terrible place.

Happily, this is wrong.

The world is not terrible. It is not wonderful. It simply is. No more, no less. Good and bad things happen every day.

I was reminded of this when I received an email from my daughter who was wanting to do something nice for one of her husband’s co-workers. The lady in question is a paramedic and a pediatric acute myeloid leukemia survivor. She was born with Marfan’s syndrome, and now has a secondary cancer.

Marfan’s syndrome affects the connective tissue in the body causing it to lose strength. It can affect bones, eyes, skin, heart valves and any number of other things. Those affected tend to be tall and thin.

In spite of all her medical problems, this lady is committed to her job and her patients, going so far as to buy toys for children and then taking the time to join them in play. She has won the admiration and friendship of my daughter and Beth asked me to help her with her plan to give the woman some much deserved recognition.

Stories like that make me think the world is a wonderful place.

A day later my daughter called me. She was fighting tears as she told me her car broke down and she was trying to figure out how to get it fixed on a tight budget. Plus she was also trying to arrange a way to get to work. We live too far away to give her a ride.

I am not sure how she solved her dilemma, but it made me feel that the world may not be so wonderful after all.

Good and not so good. Life goes on. Today Beth shared that her youngest, Nicholas, has made a list for Santa. He and his sister, Emma, were on the good side. His brother, Jacob, was on the bad side. I have no idea what Jacob did to earn this disgrace. I am also not so sure that Nicholas belongs on the good side but it was his list and he can place his name wherever he wants.

All over the world people are putting aside their own problems to care for others, just like Beth’s friend. All across the planet, machines are refusing to work, much to the consternation of their owners. Sunshine and rain are both necessary for life. The cleansing ravages of the recent wildfires will surely be followed by a riot of beautiful wildflowers.

We may have lost a hero last week, but there are many others quietly taking his place. They may not make the news, but they are out there.

Godspeed, John Glenn and godspeed to all those who work quietly to make this world a kinder place. You are appreciated.