Each person's life touches so many other lives — choose your words and actions (and posts) carefully
A youthful memory reminds me that I'm part of a greater whole
When I was younger, wherever I lived, I always had a group of friends who lived on my block or nearby. Old NYC was like that. We all knew each other. We knew our friends’ parents and siblings, ate dinner in their homes, and looked out for one another.
One friend of mine when I was about 20 or 21 was Pasquale. He lived across the street and was part of a larger crew of buddies within a three-block radius. We’d all regularly go to Jones Beach on Long Island. Pasquale could not swim and I recall a day when the waves were rough.
He was just a few feet into the water, facing the shore — talking to me. I called out to him that a large wave had suddenly materialized but it was too late. In a flash, he was hit from behind by the wave exactly as the undertow was pulling him in the opposite direction.
Pasquale started spinning, tumbling, and swallowing a lot of water. I only had to run a few steps to grab ahold of him and pull him out of the water. As he choked and gasped for air, other people came over to check on him. Fortunately, all was well.
Oddly, only a few weeks later, I stepped out of my apartment building and saw Pasquale getting something from the Mister Softee truck.
He waved to me just as whatever he was eating got stuck in his throat. His face rapidly turned dark red as I ran over to legitimately do the Heimlich Maneuver. Pasquale spit out the stuck food and quickly recovered. We shared a long laugh at how I had saved his life twice in less than a month.
I eventually lost touch with Pasquale but heard he worked as a bus driver, got married, and had at least one kid. Who knows? He might even have grandchildren by now! Whatever he’s done in his life, whoever he touched — I am beyond grateful I was twice in the right place at the right time for him.
It calls to mind perhaps my favorite film, It’s a Wonderful Life (8-second clip above). Besides being the greatest faith-based mainstream movie of all time, this 1946 classic urges us to remain mindful of our essential role as part of a local and worldwide community.
Here’s a 1.5-minute scene that takes place shortly before the above clip:
It’s easy to feel lost in the crowd, like a pawn in the game. Today’s digital methods of communication can make it seem like nothing you do matters. “Friends” come and go. Other people have more followers, fancier wardrobes, slimmer waistlines, or more popular posts.
In reality, you are fearfully and wonderfully made and you contain all the divine power you’ll ever need to be an infinite force for good.
It starts with you looking inward to accept your gifts. This requires you to shut out the relentless attempts by The Powers That Shouldn’t Be™ to make you feel alone, impotent, fearful, and angry.
It also requires you to activate the discernment to recognize when even supposed “allies” are dragging you down into the mire.
Choose to live instead.
Each person’s life touches so many other lives.
This means you.
Why wallow in self-imposed gloom and doom when God calls you a masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), a gift (John 17:24) — fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) in His image (Genesis 1:27) — the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10)?
Each person’s life touches so many other lives.
In what ways are you touching others?
I’m certainly not introducing anything new here. I’m merely reminding you of what you already know.
Tune into your intrinsic power, gratitude, and wisdom. And please join me in praying that the rest of Pasquale’s life is the best of his life!
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Like holding on to that last Tshirt from when a husband was still alive. The last tool remaining from my former life in the old country, the pictures from school. Never saved a life - but may be someone still remembers something good.
I'd never thought about saving a life, but I guess I have. My son's. My husband's, perhaps.
The incident I recall most clearly, though, was when someone saved tge life of my youngest daughter. She was about 2 and waa outside with us as we cleared snow. She'd wandered into the street, and a car came around the curve.
Before any of us could act, one of the neighbourhood troublemakers darted out himself, and grabbed her.
One of the neighbourhood troublemakers.
That was nearly 30 years ago.
My daughter is doing well. The young man has passed. An accident. I hadn't seen him in years, but I was sad to hear that.