Yesterday morning, while lazily lounging on the couch in my parents' living room (yes, I'm still visiting them in Pennsylvania; what can I say, they make it hard to leave), I was startled to hear the sound of a bird falling down our chimney and getting caught in our flue. I, along with my faithful family dog Jake, wrangled up a flashlight, gloves, a dishtowel, and a sturdy broom, and combined it with the sheer determination it would take to rescue this creature. Tragedy ensued, when I realized where this bird was trapped was completely inaccessible from both the inside of the house, as well as from the roof. Sadly, I could not save him. And it broke my heart.
The experience reminded me of a video clip I saw on Animal Planet the other day, where a local fire crew attempted to rescue a young moose from where it had fallen through ice and into open water. These men put heart, sweat, and strength into pulling this animal from its icy demise. ...Once it was freed, it returned to the hole and leapt in. These men too were heartbroken at their failed rescue attempt. But in these two stories I found a very important life lesson that I had yet to truly learn: You can't save everyone. I have friends, loved ones, acquaintances that I take a special interest in, because they appear lost or broken. But even through the immense power of prayer, and my love and compassion for them, they remain lost and broken. Because they CHOOSE to. Just like the moose, choosing to return to the frigid water to die.
You can't save everyone; least of all from themselves. But, despite that, you should always TRY. I couldn't save the bird in the flue, but I think how much worse a person I would have been to not even try. What good is it to have a good heart, yet no good fruits? It is in our actions that we are judged (by God, by others). So why not take some time today to extend a kind word to that friend you haven't talked to lately, phone that family member you've been arguing with...or try saving that moose you've been meaning to save.
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How heart warming and heart breaking at the same time. And you sound wise beyond your years and I look forward to meeting the daughter of one of my very first friends I ever made (love you Pam). And yes, we cannot become so enmeshed in the lives of those who choose to remain in their misery no matter how our heart breaks. To let go and let God takes faith! Me - I try to not only bear "good fruit" but to also leave "good ripples" as does even the tiniest stone.
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