Our Greatest Investment

As I look back on the last few decades of my life, time spent in far away places, meeting new and interesting people; experiencing life in ways that some people well never have the blessing or the curse to endure, I think about where I am now, and how I came to the place that I currently stand. Often times I find myself thinking back to instances where I met people for the first, and last time. I wonder sometimes, "What ever happened to that guy I met that day in that far away place? I hope he is well, I wonder where life is taking him." What a ride this has been to date. I have been extremely blessed to meet some of the most wonderful people this generation, and the last has ever born. I am extremely lucky.

Then there are times that I sit and I wonder what the world would be like if there were never a need for men like me; men that travel to far away places, and do things in the darkness of this world, on behalf of a country that we love so very much, and believe in with our whole hearts. Just what if there was never a need for law enforcement, because the only emotion that existed was love for our fellow man and woman. Sometimes I am very sad. I have seen things that would cause me to completely lose faith in the human race, if I were not so resilient, or maybe stubborn is a better word. I have often heard the saying, "Well, you can't save everyone. Why do you think you can change the world anyway?" I have learned not to respond to people when they say these things. Not because they don't deserve a response, but simply because I have become unsure as to how to respond to such words.

I understand that people are going to be people, and that everyone is different. But I also understand this, and it doesn't matter who agrees; all human beings are equal, and were born to be so by the rules of God, nature, the universe, or whatever you believe in. If you think differently, you are either ignoring, or completely misinterpreting the rules. For there is no religion in the world that truly teaches hate toward others, no matter their beliefs. Human beings are worthy of love, respect, kindness, and dignity no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual preference. So, why are we persecuting one another for all of these things? Why is it so very easy to hate, while we find it so very difficult to love? What is your greatest investment in this world? What is financial freedom worth if your soul isn't free? What is a great idea, if there is no one for you to share it with?

When was the last time you invested in people? When was the last time you asked someone, "How's it going?", and really meant it? Did you really expect them to tell you exactly how it's going? Did you care? When is the last time you stopped to consider the unknown; the feelings of others? I remember when I was younger, I used to road rage with the best of them. I remember being so angry when people would cut me off on the freeway. Then one day I was driving and a person blew by me and cut me off; I was already having a bad day and this almost caused me to become undone. I sped up and pulled to the driver side of the car, ready to scream obscenities over at the other driver when I saw that the driver was a young lady that was frantically wiping tears from her face. I remember seeing the look of what I read to be dire concern. My emotions immediately changed from anger to worry, and then to shame. I realized at that point that not only is it silly to anger so easily, but also, this: You never know what someone has going on in their life! For all I knew, that poor girl had just received a call that one of her loved ones had been in a fatal accident, and she was doing everything she could to get to them before it was too late. I was devastatingly ashamed of myself. I made it a point in my life to always be in control of my emotions from that point forward.

Unfortunately, we are not perfect, and even I have to "check" myself often times. But I say all of that to say this. What we as a human race need more than anything else, is one another. What we need is a wholistic investment from ourselves, into ourselves. What happens once we ALL decided to never hate again, and to forgive as easy as we hate, and to love instead? How far can we really go as a human race once we decide to concentrate on giving, instead of taking? Again, what is your greatest investment in this life? Who will you help tomorrow, without expectation of anything in return? Who will you forgive? From whom will you ask forgiveness? I wish that this world no longer needed the talents of men like myself, and my brothers and sisters that have, and continue to serve selflessly everyday. But until we reach this day, I am grateful that this world has us; all of us, our armed forces and our brave men and women in homeland security roles. I may be a hopeless romantic, in love with a dream that will never come to pass. But I promise you this, I will continue to dream, and treat everyone I encounter as though I am changing the world one person at a time. Because our greatest investment in this life, is in one another. Signing off.....For now.....