Life is a Miracle Collection

The Human Condition

The Human Condition

In college, I majored in Psychology, which covered the gamut of human emotions and connection with each other. It didn't prepare me for a virus in China, touching a man in India watching the news, then calling his friend (yours truly) to discuss the Corona Disease. Because of the love of God in me, by extension, I love people.

We have had disasters and epidemics in this country of course: cholera, distemper, polio, Black Plague, influenza. We sympathize and emphasize with those effected. I have written books about a child sitting in a pile of rubble after an earthquake, praying that his parents were alive to come and get him; the Drought of 1816, which led to food shortages and prayers for rain; a family of 13 losing most of the children to disease and a couple on the Oregon Trail, who were expecting their first child, when the young wife was hit by an illness that killed her within hours. I am not unaware of tragedy. It's all around us!

The polio epidemic, in l926, half-paralyzed my grandmother at age 19. She walked and talked again, but never regained the use of her left hand and arm. Learning to write, iron, cook, and even sew with her other hand, she would kneed bread for baking every day. As a child, I massaged her curl-up hand, each time obligating her to lie about her improvement. I discovered only later that she felt no relief.

I was touched by the attack on Pearl Harbor and wrote that a pilot was killed, flying a combat mission in WWII. As the story unfolds, his wife died from influenza. The surviving teenage daughter is sent to a psychiatric hospital after a mental breakdown. She carries a doll, believing it is a child to be protected.

To celebrate humanity, my writing took on a ray of hope with a book called: "People Are People". The world is a very small place in light of international goodwill and cooperation. I have enjoyed a mutual caring relationship with the two illustrator/ graphic designer friends who do the artwork and covers for my books. They are from a world away and in a distant time-zone. But, the professionalism, mixed with mutual respect and adoration, has given us more in common than differences. We share the joys and sorrows that are inherent to all of us.

There is a cultural, religious and language barrier, that we have overcome by relating on a human level. People experience life in different ways, but the things we have in common are what binds us together. They have encouraged my writing career and I have mentored and complimented them as artists and personal attributes. Together, we created beautiful illustrations and book cover designs, something lasting that will touch many lives.

Many of us turn to God for love, comfort and guidance. We consider all men His creation. The diversity and uniqueness is part of His plan. He knows the future and how things are supposed to be. A close friend is waiting to be delivered from stage four cancer, the way two acquaintances were. I can attest to many bonafide miracles in my own life, healing and angels surrounding my car (which I had prayed for). I was driving on a four-lane highway when I fell asleep. I woke on a two-lane highway, the correct road and lane to be safe!

There are instances of people recovering from a stroke, going through speech therapy and physical therapy for their limbs. Another woman does home dialysis every day to exchange her blood. Doctors told her she could live a long life if she continues to do well on the treatments. She is active and seemingly healthy, but has considered a kidney transplant in the future.

In yet another story, I created a character who hated Christians. He assaulted a Christian man and was sent to jail. While in jail, he gained 19 pounds from substituting sweets for his other addictions. In jail, he accepts Jesus as Lord of his life and, upon completing his sentence, he begins a jail ministry. His life of spousal abuse, affairs and alcoholism starts to turn around. Transformed lives is a frequent occurrence in many instances. It is part of God's hope for mankind.

Military families have long separations from the service member. The loneliness and adjustments for spouses and particularly the children is often profound. The worry and angst of war-zone deployments can take a toll. Of course, the worse case scenario is to lose a loved one to war! I include, in that, the heartache of eventual cancers from chemical warfare and suicides from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

I know of a man, who was said to: "not make it through the night", after he was the lone survivor of a car crash. His condition was dire enough that the hospital staff without the news that all of his friends were dead! His sister and family prepared for the worst. An emotional roller coaster ensued, with many encouraging, but false, hopes. Finally, through a lot of support and prayers, he recovered and lived to raise six children.

While living several years in Germany, I met a man who recounted his time in a concentration camp. He wore a ring that one of the guards admired. The ring was a little tight and hard to remove. So, the guard cut off the man's finger to remove the ring. That same day, the man was a rest stop and had run our of gas. My party gave him our spare gas container which the U.S. military suggested Air Force personnel keep in their trunks, since gas stations were sparse along the German highways.

At age 11, I visited my Mexican aunt and cousins for one week. My uncle was an American, like me, but spoke fluent Spanish. I didn't speak a word. Not being able to understand TV programs or my newly introduced relatives, I had to communicate by actions. I was relieved to see a box of Kellog's cornflakes on the kitchen table, something I could relate to. But, children can play and interact on a non-verbal basis sometimes. And, so it was with us. We were soon laughing and teaching each other little phrases, just by pointing to an object and saying the word in our own language.

Our family had house guests for two months, cousin John and his wife and twins. He drove semi trucks for a living. On one trip, to deliver furniture, he was traveling to New York. He stopped at a truck stop to email his wife on Valentine's Day. He thanked her for standing my him and loving him even at times that he didn't love himself. He was driving along a long stretch of highway, when he saw another semi in the road, with no lights pn. The driver must have been extremely tired, not realizing he had not pulled off of the road. With a full load, John was unable to downshift in time and was killed instantly when the two collided.

My brother-in-law, Jerry, had everything to live for. He had a nice home and 460 coworkers who flocked to his retirement party, where he repaired medical equipment in a major hospital. He collected more than 300 radios for his radio club and kept an antique car he was renovating. One day, last winter, he slipped on the Iowa ice, receiving a double concussion.

He didn't remember the fall, but complained of a headache in the ambulance that was called and lapsed into unconsciousness. The very next day, there was no brain activity and was soon taken off of life support. His family and friends felt the shock of the suddenness and permanency of his passing. It could have happened to anyone.

Older cousin, Norman, married Rosie, the love of his life. Every day, for months, he visited his wife in a convalescent home, praying for her recovery or that she would be taken quickly (painlessly). She, eventually, died and Norman was devastated. They had been married 63 years. One day, Norman, now in his 80's, met a woman who reminded him of his beloved Rosie. But, as it turned out, she was not like her at all. She took him for his money and ruined his trilight years. Writing his memoirs, about his life with his beloved, he included a chapter about a different kind of loss, the loss of his finances and dignity.

When each of us experiences what life has in store, we take it in stride or take it to heart. Either way, there are more layers to the onion (I prefer to say: "to the rose"). If we trust God's leading, we can know more good times than bad. But, life is a series of lessons learned, a chance to grow and change for the better. We are in this together, understanding and supporting each other through dilemmas and happy times. There is falling in love, enjoying church victories and changed lives; buying a house or car, the birth of a child, grandchild or great-grandchild. All things we have in common and all are part of the human condition.