It's Time to Live

I'm sitting here watching the news about Valerie Harper's terminal illness.  She has been told she only has months to live.  Can you imagine getting that sort of news?  How devastating!  I watched her on TV for years and I'm heartbroken for her family.

Of course it spurred me into a reality check once again reminding me that we are on this earth to live!  Not just to pass time or to simply get by.  I'm not trying to preach that I have always lived my life that way - I certainly have not.  I've spent my fair share of time dreading my boring daily life or wondering what the heck my future had in store for me.  I wondered what God's plan was.

Your responses to my questions about a future fundraiser were inspiring.  Again you reaffirmed my thoughts and wrapped yourself around me in positive energy.  You continue to motivate me into action.  I think you're helping me redesign my purpose.  I know I need to help myself along and find meaning especially due to the loss of Chris.  What I thought was my future has taken a sharp turn.  Now I need a new focus to inspire me in an effort to inspire others and you are supporting me to do this so thank you.  I feel as though, with you behind me I have a voice to do good things.

I do believe that we can win!  Just like my blog title and just like the SHEN chant.  I think there will be a beautiful blend of things happening in the future and I can't wait for it to unfold.  My mind is spinning with all of your suggestions, some posted publicly as well as plenty more privately.  There can be unimaginable good to come from this tragedy if we put our efforts together.  A little from a lot of people will make this work.  

I do know that God gives us the ability to dream big and to achieve.  I don't plan to move mountains but I do plan to help others.  There are many in our community in need.  It's been suggested to me to reach beyond the Chris Stewart scholarship fund and help more than a graduating SHEN student.  Of course!  I can do that.  We can do that.  People around here need assistance.  Not just financial but physical and emotional.  

Someone told me I needed to open up a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Another asked that I consider assisting kids pay for summer football camps.  It's very expensive and many can’t afford it.  That would be a good idea.  Someone else was thinking along a whole other level and believes I would be a good source of help to families who experience a tragedy; that I might make a good first line of defense in an emergency situation for traumatic situations when a family in the area is in the midst of an unexpected loss.  I like that idea as well.  A lot of things happen those first couple of weeks that require many people pitching in and going above and beyond to help.  It's a critical time.  I know I can relate to that first hand and I can help.  Been there.  

I'm excited at the thought of all the things this organization could do locally.  I know there's a need!

Something tells me I'm going to be reaching out to you again soon in hopes you'll contact your employer for donations or help.  I foresee us working on this together, sort of like a spider web.  It's going to spread wide and we'll intertwine our efforts to make our future endeavors prosperous for the community.  I have a very good feeling about this.

Chris may not have been known by everyone personally but he has been embraced by all. He represents the goodness of teens, he was a wonderfully talented sportsman and a help to many others.  I don't know why I hadn't given more thought to a non-profit organization other than the fact that it just seems too much for me to wrap my arms around.  I will do it if I know I have support.  I don't think I'm strong enough on my own and I wouldn't know where to begin - BUT the seed has now been planted and I think we've got a good platform to start from.  If you're willing to do a little to get the word out - once we're actually ready, then I will spearhead this organization on the community's behalf.

 We all need to live life with daily enjoyment and purpose.  Wasting a day or an hour becomes its own small tragedy but with effort and insight we can work on keeping these times to a minimum.  This has become more apparent as I age.  There's no better time than the present to do good things for others and create something extraordinary from the unthinkable.  I pray you'll help me very soon!

Thank you for reading.