I try to keep the articles on this blog as positive as possible.  However, that doesn’t mean that I’m insulated from what’s going on around me.  There are threats of war, disruption of peace, and people in trouble.  Our parks are becoming campgrounds for the homeless, instead of playgrounds for our children.  Entire families in the Houston area are without homes and many are in desperate need of medical attention.  People are without good jobs, can’t afford food and clothing, and find little hope.  When I look outside the safety of my office, I can only feel fortunate.  Why are so many so poor and I’m so rich?

I try to imagine coming into my home office with three feet of water on the floor and my books and personal papers floating on the surface.  Valuable pictures and memories covered in mud. My computer in a useless state and all my work destroyed.  I can still vividly remember that moment when I went back to check on our unsold home in Illinois.  With no one there to keep an eye on it, a pipe had frozen and burst.  I waded through cold water up to my knees to find a shut-off valve.  The entire lower level of our home was under water.  I worked for days trying to salvage what wasn’t already permanently damaged.  The water seeped into cabinets and the odor of destruction was in the air.  A professional restoration company came to my aid, but the carpeting was saturated and moisture had wicked up the walls.  There was easily ten thousand dollars worth of damage, weeks of cleaning, battles with the insurance company, paperwork nightmares, and endless frustration over irreplaceable losses.  This is what thousands and thousands of Houston homeowners are facing, as the cleanup from Harvey begins.  Those without insurance and policies with natural disaster exclusions are confronted with even greater heartbreak.

We gave some money that was graciously matched by my wife’s company, but we’re over 2200 miles away from being able to lend a hand.  Besides, there are enough problems in our own community that are equally overwhelming.  Sad faces holding crude signs for help are on every corner.  Abandoned pets roam the streets and trash fills the gutters.  The elderly, the sick, our veterans, and the helpless and handicapped need our support.  Where does it end, and where do I start?

As a recent retiree, I feel a certain sense of entitlement.  I’ve earned some time off and deserve to enjoy my comfortable life.  Unfortunately, there are those that had similar dreams of retirement that are now facing set-backs because of where they live.  I’ve donated time and money to various causes all those working years, but it’s never enough.  I feel a sense of guilt because I’m not hungry, own a home, and can pay my bills.  I wish I had the time and energy to solve all these problems, but instead I try to block it from my thoughts.  I don’t want to watch the news, or read about the problems that surround me.  I don’t want to feel guilty that others are suffering.  I want to enjoy life, because I only have a limited supply.