Nearly everything in life requires vigilance, maintenance or nurturing. Our lives require vigilance especially when making decisions. Our homes, bodies and possessions require maintenance in order to preserve them for a lifetime and our families require lots of all three.

Even with proper care everything has a life expectancy, people included. We replace old or dated appliances and technology, we even replace employees as they retire, but we don’t replace people. People are the most precious commodity, more precious than pets, even though some people prioritize their pets above human beings.

Those who put animals before people have not given thought to or witnessed the inhumane treatment of people. They could not have considered abortion, rape, murder, slavery, poverty and any other such indignities of mankind. This is partly because in the United States many of us have become desensitized to most of these issues. We ignorantly believe everyone has wisdom and right judgment.

How many times have we entered a conversation regarding welfare recipients who work the system remaining unwed, unemployed and bear children for an increase in benefits? Sometimes our words are uncomplimentary and disparaging when we should really pity them.

We might vehemently object to parenting for a paycheck, druggies, prostitutes, criminals, even those who are slow drivers or grossly overweight, but to verbalize our thoughts in front of our children is doing the future of our society a disservice. When, in truth, we don’t dislike the people but rather their bad behavior and/or poor choices. As a result, sometimes our thoughts are callused and our words lack compassion because our government rewards bad behavior with taxpayer dollars.

Sadly our hard hearted intolerance may be in greater need of mercy than the self-inflicted victims themselves. If we are truly called to love one another is it not necessary for us to show compassion to the less fortunate? Might we regain our compassion by recalling the words “forgive them for they know not what they do”?

I’ve been most guilty of aversion but now see things differently and meekly repent. I believe the people of the United States are being tested in subtle ways. We must remain vigilant of our thoughts, words and deeds for the ways of the world are not the ways of justice (moral rightness).

Upcoming events:

The Versailles Musical “Beauty and the Beast” has been performing in front of sold out crowds. They do an outstanding job!

This Sunday is the Versailles Lions Club breakfast held from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the St. Denis Catholic Church basement.

Mark your calendars for the museum’s upcoming discussion of local baseball teams of the 1940s and ’50s on April 25 at 1 p.m. You are invited to share your pictures, rosters and memories.

Library’s Color Crush Adult Coloring Club on April 28 at 5 p.m. More information is available by calling 526-3416.

Thanks for the kind words of support from Maureen McCabe, Jim Youngker and John Huddle.

Happy birthday to Tim Miller, Kregg Litten, John Huddle, Lacy Henninger, Nicole Meyers, Mackenzie Berning, Bob Magoto, John Poeppelman, Maggie Brewer, Emily McClure, Jenna McClure, Diane Yakos, Irene Freisthler, Jenn Wysocki, Renee Seibert, Karen Mescher, Joyce Kittel, Lori Ricketts, Matt Monnin, Dan Franks, Kami Schmitmeyer, Sol Bulcher, Krystal Lewis, Roger Bowersock, Darin Whittington, Brian Henry, Nichole Frantz, Julie Magoto, Randy Magoto, Eileen Prenger, Ed Larson, Sheila Didier, Andrew Vencill, Melisa Heitkamp, Deanne Rhoads, Ed Monnin, Nic Zumberger, and Hillary Monnin as their birthdays approach, as well as, anniversary wishes to Stacy and Fred Poeppelman (28), Joan and Gene Epperly (44), Mary Ann and John Kuether (50), Marjorie and Gene Speelman (61), and Janet and Floyd Pitsenbarger (62).

Healing prayers and get well wishes for all of us who are dealing with any of life’s many challenges, as well as, Delores Williams, Ray Francis, Linda Wilson, Sam Yagle, David Zumberger, Lois Youngker, Brian Voisard, Megan Knapke, Lester Bernholt, Cyril Frantz, Norma Magoto, Marvin Godwin, Dave Francis, Ann Paulus Pedersen, Dan Monnin, John Davis, Carl Drees, Dave Magoto, Bob Homan, Eileen Rahm, Cyril Voisard, Wayne Pittsenbarger, Jim Youngker, Isabella Yakos, Barb and Jon Agne, Samantha Smith, Michelle Ullom, the hospitalized, and homebound.

Sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Mike Schulze (61) Mary Alice Rismiller (72), and Mary Holthaus (85), also remembering the lives of Doug Gehret, William McNamee, Sue Gorrell, Nick Barhorst, David Isenhouer, Chuck Thompson, Leona Dickey, Delbert Grilliot, Deloris Hesson, Hazel Matthieu, Anna Henry, Glen Rismiller, Vern Winner, Lewis Kremer, Helen DeMange, Nick Grillot, Todd Prenger, Ruth Francis, Frances Gasson, Edward Stephan and all those not mentioned by name as the anniversary of their passing nears.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” ~Dalai Lama

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” ~Nelson Mandela

“Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.” ~Amish Proverb