Purposeful Piddling

In recent weeks the news of horrific violence has dominated the news. Violent civil wars raging across the globe; innocent children in Africa abducted; children driven from Central America because of drugs and violence, shootings at schools; police officers gunned down; and various storms, fires, and mudslides. It makes you think who can survive and where is there hope?

All of this was fresh on my mind when I went for a walk with my grandson Sam. I use the term "walk" loosely. Sam does not walk - he piddles, wanders, and talks. You might see or hear a firetruck or ambulance and Sam has to stop make that sound and acknowledge they are going to a fire. Sam might find a small hole in the rock wall and stop and say, "Look at that" in a high excited voice. Sam does have a purpose in every outing to get to our pond. Then he can throw rocks in the pond and the trip is complete. We are not that far from our town-home but it is time for Sam to say to me, "I carry you." That does not mean Sam is carrying me, it means I am carrying Sam home.

Where is the hope in this world? In innocent children who can piddle on purpose and who see the world as a place of discovery. Soon enough they will know the violence of the world. For now there are no fears just all the time in the world to wander. That should be enough to  inspire all of us to do everything thing possible to prevent the gates of hell from spreading so all children in the world can just piddle with purpose. The secret may be for us all to take time in our day and say to someone, "I carry you." I carry you in my prayers, thoughts, and concerns. I hear, see, and feel your pain and loss.

The news does not lie, I see it and hear the suffering and pain. The walk with Sam is just as real and I see the hope and joy in life. I have to believe that the truth in my grandson will prevail even on the worst day in the news.