Peace and Happiness in this Old World

This will be the most difficult Thanksgiving of all. This November 22^nd, 2018 will be the first celebrating without either of my parents. We lost Mom almost three years ago, and Dad left this earth seven months ago. We were fortunate to have both of our parents well into our own adulthoods. Even so, I must confess that I am struggling daily to fully immerse myself into my own life. I want to be as fully alive as both of my parents always seemed to be. But my struggle to reconnect to joy and enthusiasm in my daily life, let alone Holidays, is under assault. The country that I love seems to be collapsing into chaos and hell-bent on self-destruction. The torrent of bad news leaves me wondering just what should we be thankful for.

As fires rage across California and Hurricanes become more frequent and fierce every year, we close our eyes and ears and pretend that our own greed is not contributing to the global climate change that spurs these events.  Our children are massacred at music festivals, in dance clubs, and in their schools. Our neighbors are murdered in the streets or even in their place of worship. The death toll is rising and yet we cling to archaic beliefs about our sacred right to own weapons of mass destruction. We sacrifice the security of our children and our neighbors by failing over and over to put away our childish obsession with guns capable of killing dozens of human beings in a just a few minutes. We elected leaders who campaigned with a message of hate and fear-mongering. Yet, we act surprised when those leaders heartlessly rip children from their mothers’ arms and cruelly separate them from each other. In some ways, I am glad that my parents are not here to witness how harsh and cruel our own society has become.

Yet, I know in my heart, that Mom and Dad also lived through dark times. World War II raged throughout their formative years. They witnessed the bigotry and hatred that brutalized peaceful marchers for civil rights. They worried that their sons may have to someday go to Vietnam and never return as had happened to so many other peoples’ sons. They watched television news that broadcast the new normal of assassination as a way of defeating those who lead progressive movements. And they too lost their own parents along the way. Despite all the horror that went on in the world, they somehow managed to find joy in life every day. They were fully present in their own lives and always mindful of how blessed that they were to have each other, a family, and a roof over our heads.

The day after Dad died, I gathered with my three siblings at his apartment at Plantation Estates. My brother, Randy, opened Dad’s computer, as we looked for important documents. But as we all stood together, Randy found a gift left for us just a few months before. Dad had left a message for us in his Word documents. We were blown away. In just a few sentences, he told us exactly what we needed to hear. And as I head into this Thanksgiving, I am going to do my best to heed his words. I am going to do my best to be fully engaged in my life. I’m going to remember how blessed we are to have had the best parents, to have each other, to have my own wife and children, and a roof over our heads.

Here are the words that my father left for his children:

To my children – this is jan 11^th 2018. I am going through a lot of procedures  to see about putting a new aorta valve in my heart. I hope it will be successful – but if not and in case I dont make it – dont worry about  me. I think your Mother may be able to sneak me into heaven with  her and I will be happy. I have had wonderful life with your Mother and all of you children – and now all the grandkids and great grandkids.- I have no regrets but just happy moments. Proud of all of you and wish you much peace and happiness in this old world. Love you all - Dad  

May you all have no regrets, but only happy moments this Thanksgiving season. May you find peace and happiness in this old world.