My cousin and I used to pretend to be Batman and Superman. We would don our bath towel capes, secured by our brother’s diaper pins, climb on the roof of our homes and jump off. I think such stunts are the reason my dad was a career serviceman, free health care for dependents. Batman and Superman were the people we wanted to be, tool belt or superpowers it did not matter these two had what we wanted.
This morning on the way to work, well actually on the way to McDonalds for a sausage biscuit then to work, I heard a commercial that got me thinking about my life. I am sure that’s a disappointment to the sponsor. Every time I hear their commercial from now on I will likely take a mental leap from them to the thoughts I am having today.
Its Thanksgiving week and this last Sunday the tradition started again. Setting around a large table ready to eat, stomachs growling, and the pastor asks each of us to name some things for which we are thankful. Family led the list, followed by healings, then strength for those that were not, and God’s grace. It was an exercise that brought a few tears. Maybe because it was church, maybe because of the disparity of possessions, maybe because these really don’t matter, but nobody listed; house, cars, job, or bank balance.
I live in a country where can buy insurance to protect my valuable possessions. Like home insurance, if needed I can also add flood or earth quake coverage. I wonder how many African villagers can insure their huts for such disasters. Car insurance, who writes policies to cover the damage to a small pickup with a cannon mounted in its bed? Health insurance, how much health care does the average Libyan have today? My neighbors can purchase crop insurance, what insurance is there for a rice farmer in Cambodia
Then this morning I hear a commercial that makes me choke on my sausage biscuit, it says I can protect myself from identity theft. My mind suddenly leaps to this single thought “There are people in this world that want what I got!, enough so they would pretend to be me!” There are people that long for what I have, that desire to do what I do, that wish to live where I live, in some ways that makes me a lot like Superman or Batman just without the cape.
This morning I am thankful for all the things I cannot insure, the pleasure of this earth; sunrises, sunsets, winter’s crisp air, the freedom to; live, work, and participate where I chose, the joy of; friendship, shared activities, and old memories, the love of; my children, parents, and wife.
And I am thankful that McDonald’s is so very close
David
