Holidays and Humainity...

At about Thanksgiving, me and two other PBL friends of mine, (Enoch & Carina) donated some of our time to helping the needy and homeless of San Bernardino. We woke up and prepared ourselves like it was any other day I suppose. The gravity of the situation we were in hit us when we arrived there and the events of the day transpired. At first it was busy work sorting cans and whatnot, then the people started to come. I started to get that "lump in the throat" feeling, that "wow" realization, that understanding that you have a lot to be thankful for. I could see the same thing written on my friends faces as well as other volunteers from looking at all those people... I had a few pictures but I do not know where they went now. One of them could have shown some easily 100 people in dire need...

We stayed there until we all decided to leave since the event ended at 7 or 8pm if memory serves me right. We talked about the what each other was feeling about what we seen. We then continued to have our conversation over lunch at Chili's which Enoch was gracious enough to cover in its entirety from a gift card. Thank you Enoch. I think about right very now how we were so blessed to eat a restaurant without hesitation where to others it would have been a miracle if they got McDonald's.... The day ended with us watching a movie and having a cup of coffee or two at my house. That was it with that day. We each did what we could and went our separate ways with our thoughts to think about.

Its getting close to a month since the volunteering event happened and I still think about it. When I ponder about it I think about the house I live in, the two legs I can walk on, the food in my stomach. These are the simple things, amongst others, that I do forget about and take for granted sometimes. I need to be humbled every now and then and to be gracious for what I have.

Winston Churchill said something along the lines of " The only thing that will save humanity is cooperation..." I would add to that: compassion and love with a side of humility as well. Tis' the seasons of miracles. I remind all of you to take time to reflect on what really matters in life. It shouldn't be about the fad phones or whatever the case may be. Remember the saying you do not realize how valuable something is until you lose it. A phone can be replaced easily. A life of a loved one, a house, or even ones own health will sometimes never be able to be replaced.

I know this blog, and my first blog at that, is one of a morbid nature for lack of better words, but I think we all need a a healthy dose of the real world given to us every now and then for our own good. I will end this simply by saying Happy Holidays and be thankful for what you have. I wish you all peace, love, and happiness

-S. A. Larson

p.s. More then I would love to give all my PBL friends, other friends, and family iphones and take them all to Hawaii first class, sadly I cant. Give me a few years and I will see what I can do for you for a future Christmas...