Protection
I try to keep this blog and my posts free from politics, yet recent events cause me to set aside my unwritten rule. I cannot remain silent. With that in mind, read or not. Up to you.
When Southern California had an earthquake recently, the elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park formed an “alert circle” to protect two calves. It was an instinctive response to danger. Pretty amazing, but not unexpected. This type of behavior is common in the animal kingdom. It occurs in the human kingdom, too.
Ever watched an old western? As they trekked across the country, the wagon trains would circle at night to protect themselves from hungry critters and marauders. Forts are encircled in walls for protection.
As a young couple with two children, William was seven and Hannah was an infant, Kim and I had a plan “just in case” something came up. I would get Wil and our dog, Sherlock, while Kim got Hannah. That was our plan. We never had to evacuate, but I remember we experienced an earthquake and when I got to Wil’s room, he was sitting up in bed, eyes wide, as the bed shook. It reminded me of the scene in the Exorcist minus the levitation. Levitation would have freaked both Wil and me out.
It is human nature to protect our young, those most vulnerable. I wish the current administration and the GOP in particular would protect our young and our most vulnerable. The sense of caring, compassion, and empathy are noticeably absent these days. I guess the teachings of Jesus are too Woke for them and their followers. Sad. Instead, the rights of women vary from state to state, while men suffer no such thing. There is talk of the Ten Commandments being hung up on classroom walls, even as the state and federal legislatures violate them. A ten-year-old rape victim from Ohio had an abortion in Indiana, and the doctor who performed it was fined. A ten-year-old rape victim. Again, no caring, compassion, or empathy. The party of family values fails again miserably. The bible is cherry-picked to meet the needs of the callous, thoughtless, and heartless, with little reference or guidance from the teachings of Jesus. Worse than just sad. I dare say, sinful.
As a seventy-one-year-old, I worry about the loss of Medicare and Medicaid. I have two brothers and two sisters older than me. I have in-laws older than me, who care for a physically and intellectually challenged grandson, who is my wife’s nephew. While I don’t know the financial specifics of the aforementioned, I would think the loss of Medicare and Medicaid would hurt them, as well as hurt my wife and me and many of my loved ones. Losing either would place a burden on their families, and for Kim and me, place a burden on our children. Hopefully, it will remain intact and not be raided. But who knows? Maybe, hopefully, in four years it will change, but in four years, a lot can happen.
Protection.
Kim and I and many of our family members have been in or are in education, teaching and caring for kids of all ages. We have made friends with those who have worked with us, teaching and mentoring children. Some former students remain in touch with me even after all these years. There are nurses among our family members and extended family. They work tirelessly to make those with medical issues comfortable. I have a niece who works long hours at a 9-1-1 call center.
Protection.
We have friends, colleagues and family members who do not agree with Kim or me or my daughters and their husbands. They genuinely believe that our current president is doing the right thing. They believe our country was headed in the wrong direction. I get that, even though I disagree with them.
There are many who agree with me and, like me, they are worried- more than worried- about the current direction of our country. We have one son-in-law who is African American (yes, a U.S. citizen) and I know he and my daughter worry. Kim and I adopted our son from Guatemala, and even though he has been deceased since July 2014, Kim and I have talked about what would happen if Wil was alive and I.C.E. showed up at his place of work, his home, or while he walked down the street. Others, just like Wil, have disappeared or have been held in detention. The home of the brave and the land of the free, right? Only for a specific color and specific gender, I think.
Matthew 20:40 says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Jesus’s words, not mine. Straight from the Bible. This part of the parable of the goats and sheep emphasizes that serving others, especially those in need, is equivalent to serving Christ Himself.
We must speak up for those who have no voice. We must protect those who need protection, those who are the most vulnerable. We have to care about those who need our help. Pain, suffering, worry, and anxiety blanket all age groups, all races, and all creeds. If not us, if not those who are able, who will protect those who need it the most? Do we conveniently disregard Matthew 20:40 or follow it? And last, who are we to judge who needs protection? Who are we to judge who doesn’t need care and compassion? Who has the right to judge? I don’t think any of us were given permission to judge. Something to think about …
Live
Your Life, and Make A Positive Difference in the Lives of Others!
For My Readers:
If you like what you’re reading and find a benefit from it,
you can check out my other posts on my Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com under
the Inspirational Blog tab. You can find all ten books, their
descriptions, and links for purchase at the same site.
Please Connect with Me on Social Media:
Website https://www.jrlewisauthor.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557592103627
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorjosephlewis/
TikTok @josephlewis5566
Substack https://tinyurl.com/2m5ckdvh
BlueSky @jrlewisauthor.bsky.social
This past week, I discovered good news on two of my books. Black
Yéʼii received a 2025 Maxy Finalist Award for Thriller and Suspense.
It previously won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award. It is available in
Paperback and on Kindle and is currently being made into an Audible format. You
can find Black Yéʼii here:
Amazon Link: https://tinyurl.com/25w95xcn
Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-y-700-ii-joseph-lewis/1146257565?ean=9781685135379
If you want more of the backstory to Black Yéʼii
(The Evil One) check out my previous book, Caught
in a Web, which is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible.
You can find it here:
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/2GrU51T
Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caught-in-a-web-joseph-lewis/1128250923?ean=9781684330249
I also found out that Fan Mail won
a 2023 Maxy Finalist for Action and Adventure. It previously won a 2023
Reader’s Favorite Silver Book Award. It is available in Audible
format, as well as Paperback and Kindle. You can find it
here:
Audible Link: https://audiobooksunleashed.com/product/fan-mail/
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3eNgSdS
Barnes & Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fan-mail-joseph-lewis/1142543281?ean=9781685131685
Of course, you can find all my books, their descriptions,
and a pay link on my author website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.com
Photo courtesy of David Heiling and Unsplash
