What if the Mayans are Right?

People love controversy and intrigue and nothing goes better with a cup of coffee on Monday morning than a doomsday prediction that excuses us from having to do any Holiday shopping. I'm referring to the idea that the world will end on December 21, 2012, as the Mayan Long Count calendar allegedly predicts some type of catastrophic event for all of humanity. Of course there is a slight problem with this apocalyptic scenario: the Mayans didn't really predict this and much of the hubbub is a result of conspiratists and very poor historical interpretation. Sorry to ruin your day by predicting the world will go on! As much as I can guarantee anything, I have a very good feeling the sun will rise again on December 22 and we will be forced to endure fruitcake and bad sweaters and Johnny Cash's horrible rendition of The Little Drummer Boy.

But, what if the world was ending in just a few short weeks? I was originally going to slant this article to discuss the contributions we make to society. It was going to be the typical Knute Rockne-Tony Robbins motivational blog asking us to look around and take inventory of what we have (and haven't) accomplished. However, upon further review, I think this is a line of thinking I will save for another day. We can examine ourselves later this year but I still want to focus on how we would feel if we knew we had limited days left on this planet.

There would be two main feelings involved with this idea. The first would entail some sort of sadness and possible regret. If life was ending then everything we have worked so hard for would be gone. Our homes and cars and friends and family...adios. So many of us have led great and happy lives and we would be devastated if it all went away. We want life to continue. That's not to say there have been no hardships or difficult times. Everyone experiences those moments when life is not easy and we feel like abandoning hope. But then we collect ourselves and move on. Forward. Endure. Reap the benefits. We wish for life to continue because we see it is worth living.

There are some, though, that do not feel this way. To them, the end of the world would signify a conclusion to pain and suffering. They have no assets to miss or family to mourn for. The calamity has outweighed the beauty and regression has become a way of life. For people in this camp, despair becomes the default setting of every daily activity. Indifference. Numbness. Deal with the consequences.

At Samaritan House we have both types of people. This should be no surprise because we are really a microcosm of the Flathead Valley. Many of our residents plow forward with anticipation of a better future and are receiving the help to reach this goal. But we also have other residents who question the future and their role in it. It would be easier if the world ended because they see no solution or scenario in which things end well. These brothers and sisters are also making a deliberate choice and one that might be braver than the other lot. In spite of their circumstance they are allowing us (and you) to play a role in their story. We offer them dignity and hope because we believe life can improve. Things will get better.

Every donation you make is another dollar that goes not just toward material or financial costs. Yes, you are helping keep the lights on and food on the tables, but it is so much more than that. You are literally saving lives by providing a reason for our residents to move forward and dare to believe. We cannot do this without your help and as the Holiday season approaches, please keep us in mind if you would like to contribute not just in the economic aspect of Samaritan House, but also toward the business of providing hope. Thanks for all you do for us.