So it turns out that while I’m not “writing” I have very little to say. I suppose that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It’s during those times of reaching inward to the spirit that a unique form of awareness comes to the surface and that awareness has a big mouth. Which suits me fine, by the way. So, now that “When It Rains” is officially on my plate and the inner spirit is sufficiently stirred that big mouth falls open and this is what I’ve got for today.
If any of you haven’t heard of what I’m calling “The Little House That Burned For No Good Reason” check your favorite news site for the line, “firefighters watch as house burns”. The general idea is this: Outside of a primary town, sort of ‘in the country’ if you will a fire service was set up for protection. The fee, either one time or annual (I don’t currently have the specifics … and be duly noted, this entry isn’t about specifics … we’re going to pull the camera back to a higher level, an overall arc of compassion so to speak) fee for this coverage is $75. For whatever reason (and maybe they were erroneously playing the odds) Gene Cranick’s family never paid the fee. When a fire started outside their home that was unable to be contained with simple garden hoses they did what Americans are taught to do in an emergency–they dialed 911. A quick check of the payment roster showed that they didn’t pay the fee and the firefighters were never dispatched. As the fire raged, Cranick told the 911 operator that he’d pay “whatever the cost” to have the fire department come to their aid, but still no help was forthcoming. It wasn’t until a neighbor who HAD paid the $75 called, worried about the fire crossing over to his property that the big red trucks rolled onto the scene.
Once there, it would be believed by anyone of us that they would unroll their wide-mouthed hoses and begin pumping water onto the blaze. Of course, since you’re reading this you understand that this did not happen. After confirming that there were no living people inside the dwelling, well, you guessed it–the firefighters (perhaps not so aptly named in this case–maybe the fire “mercenaries”) stood around and chatted while the structure burned. A frantic Gene Cranick begged the Fire Chief to put the fire out, again offering to pay anything by means of compensation for their effort but again he was refused. Angry neighbors jeered and extolled their anger upon the crowd of onlooking firemen but the only time they moved was when the fire itself threatened to burn beyond Cranick’s property line and onto that of a paying “customer”.
Yes, you can see already which side of the fence I’m standing, but before condemning or condoning I’ll ask you to do what a great many people in our country don’t–think for yourself and about others for a couple of minutes. There are some solid points here and those points can’t be argued with as they are facts. And that right there is where most of us stop. But there’s more to this story (and every story really) than just the facts. We are, after all greater than any computer resolute in its 1,s and 0′s. We have the wondrous collage of intellect AND intuition.
From one side of the fence we understand that Cranick didn’t pay the $75 and here only Cranick would know why. For some, this is sufficient enough reason to stop their thought processes, hang up their proverbial thinking caps and move on with their morning coffee with a justified sense of self-righteousness. Consider this though–once upon a time in the New Testament (and no, I don’t follow any specified religion or any book of any specified religion, this is just a good point of reference) Jesus said, “Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.” I’ll state this clearly for the record: If after that statement someone picked up a rock, that rock-wielding fucker was a liar. There is not one of us over the age of 5 that has not done something we shouldn’t have. Not one. It is an inherent part of the human condition. We’ve all taken risks without full consideration of the consequences and if you think you haven’t you need to put down your rock and seek some counseling for your severe narcissistic complex. The sad part is we often stop when considering the consequences to ourselves, but don’t push onward to the potential cost of others. Sure, riding your 10-speed one handed through a busy intersection is thrilling, and after all you’re young and will live forever. But what of the driver that swerved to avoid hitting your dumb ass? When he slams into the car coming the other way what becomes of his day, week or year. Physical injuries aside, his insurance rates go up, his livelihood is in jeopardy while the old car is in the shop … and dear God, what if he doesn’t have the money to compensate for repairs that have to be paid upfront before insurance cuts him a check? Doesn’t really matter though, because what a rush it was to breeze through that congested traffic. This is but one tiny near-insignificant example and we could fill volumes with other, more severe evidence that we fall short on our thinking at times, that we do, without regard to the consequences step outside what we know is right or wrong.
People who don’t follow the rules get what they deserve: Fair enough, I suppose, until it’s you or someone you love. Suppose for an instant your brother or sister or cousin or son or daughter decided to take dip in the pond. You know the pond that has the large, bullet-ridden sign clearly stating in bold black letters: NO SWIMMING. Suppose they got into trouble, you know a pulled muscle or a sizable leg cramp. Suppose someone saw them drowning and call 911. But further suppose that when the EMTs and Police showed up they all stood around the shore and watched. Later, when they fished the body out you’d be devastated of course, filled with helpless rage and unforgettable loss. Understandably so. But when the news story broke and people began leaving their comments there would be someone out there who would say something like this: “Well the sign DID say NO SWIMMING! I’d say they got what they deserved.” And you of course would want to introduce his face to some jagged glass and rubbing alcohol due to his arrogant display of inhumanity. And that’s the rub my human brethren. We want to believe that we are of higher station than the animals around us but so often we behave more like strategically shaved chimpanzees never taking a breather from our feces-throwing activities long enough to consider the circumstances of our brothers and sisters.
In short, we’re all here because while we were doing something we weren’t supposed to be doing, doing something we know wasn’t smart or was just plain wrong that God, Fate or Lady Luck threw us a bone … or even because another person who occupied this planet with us decided to save us EVEN THOUGH we were doing something wrong. So when Mr. Cranick threw himself upon the mercy of the Fire Chief and his associated companions he found no compassion or forgiveness. For those that do push blame in the situation they go only as far as the city leaders (and personally I do believe that Tennessee mayor is a low-form of life and isn’t fit to lead a small carnival act into Hell) but I go further and lay blame on each and every man or woman there who had the ability to thwart the suffering of their fellow man. Standing before the equipment that could stop the fire but never pulling your thumbs from your rectum is guilt absolute. Just like each of us, you only exist because someone or some greater power saved your ass once (or likely multiple times before) and to repay such kindness with apathy and disregard is flying in the face of grace. It’s making a testimonial to the Universe that YOU will never again require help–because in this writer’s, no, in this HUMAN’S viewpoint … you simple don’t deserve it. Remember that the next time you throw yourself on the mercy of God, Fate or Lady Luck … or even … another person, as you seek forgiveness for the mistake you made but are left to burn instead.
My neighbor doesn’t seem to like me very much and as a result I don’t care much for him. But were his home on fire I would do all in my power to help him in whatever way I could, even to the point of rushing in to pull his ass out of the flames. But I’m just a human being. What do I know?
