Day 17 in Review

Prayer: Yes
Scripture: Yes
Silence: Yes! Almost too much

The Deed/The Day: Unfortunately, today yielded a trip to the hospital to visit a loved one. Hospitals should be added to the list of places the ooze good deed opportunities — like airports and the Post Office. I got to hold lots of doors and smile at a lot of very sad looking people. I thought one guy was going to upchuck on me while I was waiting to get in, but he didn't. That would have ruined do-gooding for me forever and for always. I had a nice visit, listened a lot, sat for a little while. It was an exercise in just — being there. I think that helps sometimes, to just be there. I left them a bag of frozen food for supper tonight. It wasn't fancy like a home cooked warm meal, but maybe it helped. Here's a question: is visiting a loved one in the hospital, bringing dinner even, a deed — or a moral obligation? Does that make sense? I did not have to think twice about what I needed to do in this particular situation. Maybe a moral obligation and a deed are the same thing. Maybe I think too much.

Words of Advice/Encouragement: I had the opportunity to interview Anne Pajcic today for a story about how she and her husband donated $50,000 to the local homeless shelter earlier this month. It was inspiring. She said she didn't have to think about it at all. They saw a need — while reading the morning paper. And they did something about it. No discussion. They just up and did it, right then and there. Instead of getting sidetracked with the day's schedule and personal problems and other things, they just stroked a big, fat check. Done. Problem solved. When I told her that her deed had inspired many, she said she was glad — that maybe it would encourage others to do what's right. Maybe discussion is not required when a "moral obligation," a need, a deed-to-be-done, whatever you want to call it — needs to be met.

Final thoughts: I am jonesing for a bag of cheese puffs — and Thin Mints. I think it's a moral obligation for me to at least dream about them. Sigh.