As the year moves closer to the second quarter and April 15th looms, it is always a good reminder to count our blessings. If you are reading this post, I assume, you are not in danger or in a dire situation. So yes, you are blessed. From my point of view there is plenty of reason to be depressed and sad. I can’t imagine, but maybe you can, what the profile would be of a person who is thrilled to death with their life and happy where they are today. I am more able to see how someone could be totally depressed and sad right now.
If we create a starting point. let say the space between here and earth’s moon, what things are happing out there that thrills you heart? I am trying to stay optimistic, but between space junk and the possibility of an asteroid hitting the plant nothing thrilling comes to mind. There are many events that are happing that are “aha” moments. A new moon lander almost landing upright, not quite, but providing important feedback so we can start colonizing another plant. I know I am being selfish, but shouldn’t we try to preserve this plant and make peace on it. The future generations can and will be better equipped to fend for themselves, right? At the rate we are going those who might survive a “nuclear winter” will be more concerned with seeing the sun than going to the moon.
Bringing it down to earth though I just lost my oldest brother and the patriarch of our family. My concern is what is going to happen in the next year and not so much the next century. My father was born in 1911, my oldest brother I just lost was born in 1937 and his oldest son in 1958. I was born in 1946 my oldest daughter in 1966. In thinking about our evolution and comparing it to the age of this earth I am certain the earth will outlive hundreds of generations to come and has nourished many generations before. So, what should we be doing to be happy? Is the answer that each of us should be doing all we can for each other as opposed to helping unworthy billionaires figure out how to go on vacation to another plant while ours goes to hell? Or better yet to “ice”? I think you may be on the right track if we spend more time helping people in need of the very basics of life. (Maslow’s hierarchy level one).
So, getting into the reality of life here on earth and trying to help one another, I can’t help but point out that there is so much diversity in our thinking that i can’t hardly get a handful of people to agree what color an orange is. Everyone has their own agenda and when looking at the macro picture of where we are today, in the US of A. There is nothing but chaos. Who are the needy and why do I need to work hard for their benefit? Let’s examine that question. Let’s say a business burns down, and all the workers are without work. What should we do? Let them deal with their problem without any help? Put together a “Go Fund Me” page. Of course, it comes down to who is the closest to these workers and how much these folks care about the workers survival. If it’s my son or daughter, who is without work, it impacts me more than anyone. Tragedy seems to increase the circle of concern from family to friends to neighbors to community. So, if we look at fires in our world you can find them everywhere you turn. The key is who is closer to the fire and what should we do when it is inside our home. If I am without money (broke) all I can give is my labor. If I have limited resources, I can give until it begins to hurt me. If I have plenty of money, I give some, but I am more prone to call on the family, friends and community rather than to just flip the entire bill. Why is that? It’s called lack of empathy. It’s called watching instead of acting. It’s called “not my problem”. Put out the fire closest to you and the next one if you can.
HPLA Charities was established to be there as if it was our home our family member in trouble. We have seen the cold bust a water pipe causing water to spray all over the bathroom and an old lady unable to move have to yell to find help because her phone was dead. I have had old folks fall and lay on the floor for hours because they could not move. Yes, technology is available to overcome these tragedies. But, if it’s the difference between keeping the lights on or buying an emergency alert bracelet which would you chose. The answer to many of these problems is we donate to charities who help these folks. We pay taxes so first responders are available 24/7. We stop by to check on the elderly neighbor. We do all we can for our own safety and for those closest to us. What is the best way to further your reach for those in need? Prayer? That is never discouraged, but I can assure you praying will not do anything for someone laying on the floor. It takes a physical being to help. No disrespect to those that have had a gradian angel appear. No disrespect for those who have had a cancer disappear. For me it is better to read and understand God’s word and be the hands and feet to answer prayer proactively. I’ll quote Ms. Burnice, “I know God sent you to me, he always answers my prayers”. Burnice will be 90 years old in May. She lives alone but has all the resources to handle an unexpected tragedy. Her prayer is to be able to stay in her home and remain self-sufficient until her dying day. If Burnice was not able to pay all her bills due to increased costs of living, what would she do. What would you do? HPLA has been able to pay utility bills to keep the lights on. We have been able to fix the leaky toilet and save on the water bill. We have built wheelchair ramps and eliminated trip hazards. we have installed storm doors to keep out the cold and reduce heating bills. Anything that can break down in a home we have at one time or another, fixed it. For Burnice it was a vehicle out of control that mowed down here exterior fence. How were we able to do that? You may not believe it, but the sacrifice of our volunteers gets the biggest credit. Hundreds of hours of blood sweat and tears. Yes, some living conditions we see are so deplorable it makes you cry. But the cost of the new chain link fence and all the accesories came from your donations.
After a very short life of 87 years my brother Leonard crossed into eternity and will no doubt be crowned with a crown of many jewels. But what he did here on this earth is why many friends and family are alive and well. Brother Leonard was put to work as soon as he could walk. Forced to leave school to help support our family. He missed being a kid. He helped our dad to work on cars. That was what my dad did after WWII. Auto repair kind of ran in the family after that and with many mouths to feed the sooner one of us could help we did. As a faithful Catholic family at the time babies came along pretty often. As the oldest boy Brother Leonard got the short stick. Sister Ellie, my oldest Sis, had her hands full changing diapers at a young age. She still works hard to stay in her home and is blessed by a very loving and supportive family. Brother Leonard and Sister Ellie have acquired some wealth. Nothing to compare with the Billionaires of today, but enough to pay for a plumber without relying on charities like HPLA. So many others out there are not so lucky.
Brother Leonard evolved from sweeping floors in the garage for Dad to an expert in standard transmission repair and on to teach for a prestige collage the art of overhaul and repair of the newest most sophisticated drive trains of our time. Along the way he taught in church, led mission trips to help folks in other countries, mentored hundreds of Mr. Goodwrench mechanics working today and more importantly insured his Mom & Dad, his wife and her family and all of us siblings were all taken care of. Sometimes sacrificing until in hurt. Could he have been finding ways to reach the moon. You can bet on that. Instead, he did all he could for those closest to him including the city we all love. San Antonio.
While this is a cry for donations to keep us doing work to help those in need, I have tried to exalt Brother Leonard as an example of what is the perfect American. Of Hispanic origin, his example will make America Great by doing what we all should be doing. Praising God and working to the bone to insure no one dies needlessly on our watch.
May your life be long and your taxes low. A donation to HPLA is a tax deduction. We are a registered 501c3 which qualifies your donation for a tax deduction. Please give via www.hplacharites.org/donate aka Habitaciones Para latinos Association. God Bless us one and all. Robert L. Flores Chairman.