With deep love to the Granite Mountain Hotshots. I participated in Tuesday’s memorial to the Granite Mountain Hotshots via television, and was moved to tears throughout. But at the same time I noticed a feeling that something was missing. Something unintended, passing unnoticed. “We will always be there for you, for the rest of your lives. You will never be alone.” A deep and heartfelt promise to the families of the fallen, reiterated over and over. “You will always be taken care of. You will never be left alone.” Heroes, we tell ourselves, who made the ultimate sacrifice. Judged to be worthy of special accord. Their families deserve our honor and care. Judged. 21-year old Brendan McDonough survived Yarnell. He now has to live with the absolutely uncalculable loss of all nineteen of his crewmembers, truly his brothers. Not the same? Will there be scholarships and aid for him and his wife and children for the rest of their lives? Always cared for, never alone? Maybe. I truly hope so. Please, please let’s make it so. Remember Karen Perry, a cancer survivor with disabled kids? Her ex-husband, two friends and all three of her children were killed in a plane crash on Thanksgiving Day a couple of years ago. Six months later she lost their home to foreclosure. There were a few who tried to step up and help, but it wasn’t enough. Another tragedy; so unfortunate. But take care of her for the rest of her life? What do you think this is, how are we supposed to take care of everyone? Only those who meet special criteria, who pass our judgment are worthy. That old bum on the street, what he’d ever do for us? Look at those kids; their mother could get a job if she really wanted to work. Why doesn’t my neighbor clean up his yard? - that mess is bringing down all our property values. “We will always be there for you, for the rest of your lives. You will never be alone.” Why should these words apply only to some? What would this world look like if we made this promise to everyone, without exception? Why in heaven’s name should love and compassion be based on a judgment of someone’s worth – how can we possibly contrive such an evaluation? When do we start recognizing that this is what we’re doing and create a different course? Our tears during the ceremony for all those boys – that’s what love feels like. Please remember that feeling. Carry it forward in the name of these souls. Continue their service, one living being at a time, without judgment. There is no greater honor that we could ever show them. Please. “We will always be there for you, for the rest of your lives. You will never be alone.”
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 04:48:01 +0000
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