Finally, something real I can do to help support our troops overseas.
The other night down in Central Park a dozen or so people were standing around holding candles. I don’t know if they were protesting the war or praying for victory, but a flash of irritation shot through my pragmatic side. “Good grief,” I thought. “As if they couldn’t do something more useful with their time!” For example, if they oppose the war because of humanitarian reasons, why don’t they get to work, earn some money and donate it to any number of worthwhile charitable organizations.
Now, I realize prayer is useful, especially to the one doing the praying—whether or not it’s useful to the one being prayed for is really out of one’s hands.
And then I thought about myself “What exactly are you doing that’s useful?”
Uh, nothing.
So that shut me up.
But then today, as if in answer to somebody’s prayer, in Red Wing’s local newspaper, The Republican Eagle, the headline read “Collection Boxes Set Up For Troops”.
The times have changed and housewives on the homefront can’t send homemade goodies in coffee cans packed with popcorn anymore (security reasons), but they did list a number of “quality-of-life” items that can be donated.
“I can do that,” I thought. I know I can always send a check, but I could donate a little of my time, too, in choosing something I think would cheer up some soldiers—and, if I buy blank greeting cards—some soldiers’ sweethearts or families.
8:18:39 PM 
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