Purity of Heart

As I sit in my car awaiting time to go into my kids school for their Christmas parties, I watched the kids playing in the playground. At one point my eye caught a little boy crying. I don't know why he was crying, but he sat apart from the group except for 2 other boys. The thing that was unusual was that the 2 other boys were standing there. They didn't cause the distress from what I saw, but the amazing thing was they stayed with the crying boy. At this age they didn't know what to say or do but they provided this boy with comfort by being there. They cared. While all the other kids were spending their precious playground time running and jumping, these 2 boys were showing support for their friend in need. Eventually the teacher came over and cared for the boy by telling him something to sooth his sorrow and they all went back to the table with all the other teachers. So I ask you, is compassion inherent or taught? I don't know, but I do know those 2 boys acted better than many grown ups I've seen.

Half way gone or halfway there?

I'm 41. According to statistics I'm halfway through my lifetime. Last night as I lay in bed I starting thinking about my first half of life, pre-family, and thinking of all the things I did throughout the years. I've had my share of good times and bad. The things that seem to stay fresh in my mind are the lessons I've learned and the times when I felt I was living to the fullest. A canoe trip down Rifle River with several of my friends, driving through Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky with a friend after high school, taking a trip to the west coast and visiting wine country and meeting up with school mates in California. These are some of my most vivid memories of my earlier life. I remember going to obscure places and late night Taco Bell drive through runs. Working at a 2nd run theater and having Thursday after hours pizza and beer while we preview the new movies. Barbecuing out behind a friends house with a bon-fire. These are a few of the things I remember well. I've had a lot of good times. Some bad times. Luckily for me the former vastly outnumbers the latter in my recollections.
Now I think of all the years I hopefully have ahead of me and with the lessons I've learned I endeavor to make them more memorable than my previous ones. One thing is for sure, with my kids and wife, I have plenty of help to make that happen.