God has a way of giving us a dose of reality. The day after I received word that I had melanoma, Mary and I went to pick up a few things at Target. I was still feeling sorry for myself – you know, the “why me?” syndrome. As I remember it there were quit a few people entering the story at the same time. We were having one of those rare 60 degree days in January when normal temperatures in PA are in the high 30′s or low 40′s and everyone was taking advantage of the good weather. As we came closer to the store I could see two women standing on the sidewalk while the crowds surged around them. It reminded me of a flock of birds that splits as it flies around an object and then comes together again on the other side. They stood there almost as if they were in a bubble. I barely notice them until we were within a few feet – and then I saw them, these two women probably in their late thirties or early forties, attached at the head, one face one way the other facing the other way standing there trying to get into the store. Conjoined twins. It was hard for me to look at them.
Think about what life would be like for those ladies. And they had been like that all of their lives and would probably stay that way for the rest of their lives. Boy, was that a dose of reality for me. I’ve had a good life, basically free of pain and suffering. I’ve experienced nothing like what those dear ladies have experienced and it’s not a one time experience for them – it’s everyday! There are people – many people – around the world who are going through sufferings and hardships that I will never experience.
Every once in a while we need a dose of reality.
