Chaplain’s Corner

Joe was a quiet man. He didn’t talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake. Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.

Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us. He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII. Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.

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One day a little boy said to his friend, “When I get older, I want to wear glasses just like Granny’s because she can see so much more than other people. She can see the good in a person when everyone else sees their bad.  She can see what a fellow meant to do even if he didn’t do it!  I asked her one day how she could see so good and she said it was the way she learned to look at things when she got older.  So when I get older, I want a pair of glasses just like Granny’s so I can see good too!”

How different the word would be if we all wore a pair of Granny’s glasses.  Apostle Paul reminded the church in Galatia, “Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)  Maybe we are missing out on seeing the good and beautiful things in people’s lives?  May we not give either!  I challenge you to try on a pair of “Granny’s Glasses.”  You may be surprised by what you see not only in others but also in yourself.

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While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.

He came closer still and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

The old man smiled, and said, “I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

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At Southern Pines Healthcare Center the recent National Day of Prayer was celebrated with great fanfare. Prayers were “sent up to heaven” by balloons and many prayers composed by patients were read in addition to having a local pastor speak on the power and value of prayer in our lives.

Chaplain Mike Kramer
Southern Pines HealthCARE Center