Thanks

Regardless of how you know me (in person or only through this blog), one thing you should know about me is that I'm generally not the kind of person who walks around thanking God for everything or who gives thanks for the things in my life on a regular basis. (Don't get me wrong...I'm thankful, but I don't usually say it out loud.)  But on Monday this week, something struck me.

Let me back up a little bit.  We live in a fairly new community that's made up of a mix of single family homes and townhomes.  There are several apartment complexes in our general neighborhood, and one of them is located directly at the end of our street.  Passing by this apartment complex is a regular occurrence for me since it's on my way to work.  (For what it's worth and to give you a frame of reference, I've heard the rental rates for it and, by my standards, it's an expensive a high-end apartment complex. I've also been inside it, and let me tell you, it's nothing to sneeze at.)

For the past couple of months or more, every week during my morning commute I've seen something that gives me pause:  There's a woman who digs in the dumpsters when the apartment complex puts them out for garbage collection.  (She even brings her own stepping stool!)

The first time I saw it happening, I thought "how strange" and went on my way. After seeing it more than a couple of times, I think I may have become a little desensitized to it because I started to think nothing of seeing her rummaging through the trash.

But this week when I saw it happening again, it really tore at my heart.  I don't know why it struck such a chord with me this week -- maybe it's because the weather has turned colder or because it's the holidays...whatever the reason, it just didn't seem right.

My morning commute usually goes 1 of 2 ways -- I'm running late or I'm on schedule but in a rush.  I run a tight schedule and don't dilly dally.  But this week, I took a long pause at the stop sign (and also quickly snapped off a few pictures of her from my vantage point in the car) to watch her as she dug in the trash.

I thought about was how there has to be a better way to live and how unfortunate it is that she's doing this.  Then I thought about whether there's anything I could do for her (like give her money or help her in some way).   I continued to think about her off and on throughout the day.  I don't know anything about her, what's her living situation, or why she's doing this so I don't know that I can do anything to help her.  

What I do know is that this week I felt thankful for everything I have (both material and immaterial) in life: health...home...happiness...loved ones...friends...work...the list goes on.  I'm sure I'll continue to think about all those things for which I'm thankful --  today on Thanksgiving (of all days) and probably again the next time I see her out there.   (Though to be honest, I hope her life improves and that I don't see her out there.)

So, what are you thankful for today?