Dear Editor,

We’ve had very good weather recently, and it’s easy to get into the feeling that everything is A-OK. Well, around here, it is pretty good. We can read and hear about troubles in other places. I spread my news sources out, so that I get a fair balance over the narrow silos of hyperbole and propaganda. I believe half of what I hear, and it seems that there are places where bombs are dropping and buildings are exploding, and people are getting hurt real bad. I’d rather it weren’t true, but I think it probably is true.

Once again, I’m really happy to be where I am. There are probably folks here who have troubles, and need and deserve help.

There are also people here who make a point of helping out when and where they can. The fact that we have both, and that bombs and guns aren’t part of the picture, is a sign we’ve landed in the right neighbourhood.

My main problem is taking charge of the superfluity of gadgets and items that accumulate, waiting for their correct application. We are living in a sea of too much stuff; good stuff that’s just not where it’s immediately needed, and in the way of our using the stuff we do want to use right now.

I’m reminded of a parable I heard years ago, though I don’t remember the source. It goes like this: a fellow dies and goes into the waiting room, to be assigned his eternal fate. He takes the tour, and is shown a room with long tables covered with scrumptious food. On each side of the long table, people sit with four-foot spoons chained to their wrists. Try as they might, they can’t manage to get the food into their mouths, because the spoons are too long. He recoils at the sight of such torture, and asks to see the other options. He is shown to another room with the same scene, except that the people are feeding those across the table with the overlong spoons, while those across the table are feeding them. And that’s the difference between heaven and hell. Where are we? It’s just another day, for you and me in paradise.

Robert Wills, Shawville and Thorne