move, don't speak

You guessed it: I went for another long bikeride this morning. This time, I sat to read a while on the Roman Acqueducts. After, I rode over to the tennis courts to rest in the shade, reading until Milan finished his tennis lessons. What a perfect day! The sun always does come up again, doesn't it?

So, I finished Ward N° 6 today, and then I watched "Shawshank Redemption," one of my favorite movies. I love having time to read, to study, to relax. But, you know me, I'm always thinking about something. Today: I couldn't help but think about the ever present disregard for humanity. For instance, the story of the Ward N° 6 details an insolent doctor of an asylum who has for 20 years been aloof and has served as a philosophic crystal in society, unconcerned with the human value of his "patients," only a student of making money. Few people interest him, and he prefers solitude to company. His narcissistic character, in partner with his solemn schedule, allowed him to funtion around everyone without getting to know anyone. If you've seen the movie "As Good As It Gets," this doctor reminds me of Melvin, Jack Nicholson's character. Eventually, his colleagues determine that he is crazy and strip him of his dignity by admitting him into the ward as a patient where he dies suddenly of an apoplectic stroke. Sad little man. Sad story.

Then, in "Shawshank Redemption" (if you've not seen it, go rent it! It's a fantastic film), falsely accused prisoners await their chance to live again. Eternally condemned for the crimes of another, the movie details one prisoner's plight to freedom. Grueling and harsh, he survives the corrupt authority which initially banished him from society.

**But, how do we really know who has authority to determine one man's freedom or another man's sanity? The element of trust is eternally crystallized alongside judgment and we must trust only that He knows what He is doing. **

I find it so interesting that people so often disregard others. The disease of selfishness is ever present. We are so often concerned with ourselves, our status, although we will tout every one of our cheritable deeds and our humble servanthood. We will discredit those who value money, yet we all have televisions and a closet (or 2 or 3) full of clothes. We will proclaim His name by mouth and destroy it in our actions. We all do it. We know nothing but ourselves. We spend our lives trying to avoid suffering, as if we know the pain involved. In Ward N° 6, the most intelligent crazy patient in the ward, Ivan, makes a bold statment about all humankind. He says, "To despise suffering, to be always contented, and to be surprised at nothing, one must reach this condition ... or to harden oneself by suffering to such a point that one loses all sensibility to it--that is, in other words, to cease to live." We are only alive as much as the people around us are alive, and their lives depend on us. That's why they say, "Bad company corrupts good character." When death surrounds, you die. When life embraces you, you become alive. We are not here for ourselves. We are here to bring Him (He=life) to them.

How often do we look at others and think, "Wow. They are incredible, just because they are alive"? How often do we trade others for ourselves? We take captive everything but humanity from other people. We take captive their money, their services, their time, their hands and their feet, but not their humanity. The attitude of servanthood is one expressed on bended knee. I am so grieved for the coming generation that they do not have a sense of what it means to serve. I know I am a product of the first generation of cyber-kids, an entirely new breed of child, a child who learns to value words over actions. I pray that I never forget the fortitude of an act of service, especially here in France, a world where actions are my only voice of service.

Ok, I'm done. Sorry to shout from my soapbox today. But, you know how I am, so you should have known it was coming sooner or later.

By the way, Im sorry. I have no pictures to post today. I set aside my "appareil de photo" (camera) for the day. Tomorrow, Biarritz. I will try to write as often as I can while away. Know that I will think of you while I am in Spain for the week!