I’ve had some extra time this past week to do different things, some that I put off for a long time, and some were experiments that I’ve thought about before, but didn’t have any “spare” time. It has been very cold in our area… some claiming that there were a few record lows in the past century. Of course, there are always some who will complain if it is only two degrees below freezing, or raining on their planned day for travelling, or shopping, or any other outdoor activity, or the heat is so intense that it is causing someone to sweat, even without any physical activity. I agree that these examples are extreme, but if you have any awareness of global news, what would you do if you were in a different location or situation?

What would you do if you lived in Australia, were asked to evacuate your home and all your possessions, with the possibility of returning to nothing but ashes? A dear friend of mine, who moved to Australia less than a year ago, is in that position.

What would you do if you lived in the Philippines and could watch the explosion of the Taal volcano? Several of our Phillipino friends are scrambling to get help to relatives and friends in that situation

What would you do if you were a new resident in a far-away country, and you lost family members in a massive plane crash? Many who died in that crash live in our province, and we hear and read family stories who are trying to figure out what they can do for the remaining family members who live here.

What would you do if you woke up in Newfoundland and discovered that the snowstorm during the night had buried your car, blocked your doors, had no electricity, and you needed medical care? I can only imagine what is going on in those neighborhoods.

I have no answer, even to myself, because major stress-causing situations in my life are still “small events” compared to what we are hearing this month. There is no excuse for complaining about a bit of cold weather, the inconvenience caused by the tardy snowplow, or the need for an extra layer of clothing. 

It seems to me that we need to be more thankful… and do less complaining. Sometimes, we could just say, “It is... what it is!”

Tags: Stories Hard Times Imagination News