Beautiful Letter

I read this beautiful letter to the editor in the USA Today when I was traveling this week:

Soldiers saved by fallen comrades should learn to just live

Kimberly Schliesmann - Chicago

I felt compelled to write to USA TODAY after reading the profoundly moving article about soldiers who sacrifice their safety and their lives so their comrades can live ("In Iraq, coping after a hero dies saving you," Cover story, News, Thursday).

I want to thank USA TODAY for this portrait of the sacrifice these soldiers have made. I also want to offer some words of comfort to those who have survived this kind of ordeal.

I was struck by how the survivors in the article talked of struggling to live lives "worthy" of the sacrificial act of their fellow soldiers. However noble this is, worthiness is not what these soldiers died for. They died not so that their fellow comrades could live an extraordinary life, but so that their comrades in arms could live through the ups and downs of the ordinary life we all live. They died because they loved their comrades.

I offer these words out of love and compassion. I also had someone die for me, though I was not there to witness it.

Jesus Christ died for me on the cross. Just like the surviving soldiers who think of their comrades every day, I think of Christ and his sacrifice every day. My life has changed because of my awareness, acceptance and gradual understanding of that sacrifice. I know I will never be worthy, but I know that is OK. I do my best to serve and love those around me because of the profound gratitude I feel toward Christ. I fail a lot, but I do my best. Accepting this has brought me peace and strength. Understanding that I could never really do anything worthy of such a profound sacrifice is humbling, but it is healthy.

I wish with all my heart that at some point, these soldiers will know that it is enough simply to live with gratitude.

God in Las Vegas

Who would've thunk it? The time here has been amazing. The highlight so far has been spending a fortune (at least to this cheapie) to go see Love - the Cirque de Soleil show based on Beatles songs. It was created by the founder of the Cirques who was a friend of George. It was fully supported by Paul, Ringo, Yoko and George's wife so I figured it would be well done.

What an absolute amazing show. Beauty, joy, right-in-the-center-of-it-all experience, wonderful memories, whimsy, innocence, love. When we walked out Ginger said she didn't mean to be sacrilegious, but she felt the same way she did when we left the monastery after our weekend visit. I fully understood - when art reaches a pinnacle it touches God. The experience was truly transcendent. Then to top it all off, as folks left the theater we all started singing spontaneously along to the "Get Back" song on the speaker.

I never thought I would say I was glad I came to Las Vegas!

See a snippet of it here.

Sin City Here I Come.

I'm so not thrilled about going to Las Vegas for a week - a seminar for work. I only went one time before (for work) and hated it. But the good news is I will be going to see Theresa on Friday and staying until Sunday. I'm REALLY looking forward to that. I'm also looking forward to seeing a Cirque de Soliel built around Beatles songs.
See the trailer here.

David? Are you out there? I answered your awkward comment in the Mother Teresa post :)