hands

Boggess Video was the cool (and only) place to rent movies in Russellville back in BETA's glory days. In fact, I remember they still had to carry them long into the reign of VHS. It wasn't all that much different from the store depicted in the movie Clerks, except that Dante and Randal weren't there to insult customers or play hockey on the roof. The one thing I do clearly remember about going to Boggess was always passing by the aisle that had the Faces of Death series. I had this unexplained, primal urge to watch them, but I was too cowardly to so much as pick up one of those empty cardboard boxes, much less sit through hours of car accidents and animal cruelty. Twenty years have passed and I doubt much has changed. Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a documentary about Saddam Hussein on the NatGeo channel and I was curious enough to switch it on for some background noise while I got ready for bed.

I'm sure it was far less disturbing than Faces of Death, but it was enough to make me start thinking about the kind of world so many people live in and how my way of life in is such stark contrast to that of most others. I've spent the past couple of days pondering this and it's rather humbling, I must say.

I consider myself to be quite ordinary. Definitely not dull or lacking in talent or personality, just a 28 year-old woman trying to survive and leave some sort of positive mark on this world. But when you think about it, I live an extraordinary life. Some may call it chance or luck, I am more inclined to call it a blessing by a God who loves me more than I could ever understand.

Even with my contacts out and my mind still mulling over the day's events, I was more than a bit freaked out when they showed a man getting his hand cut off for speaking out against Saddam Hussein. As I continuted to watch, both captivated and repulsed, I was grateful that they froze the grainy videos of executions just short of a trigger being pulled or a sword coming down.

In the days since, I've been paying more attention to the routine things that I do and I'm finding them to be increasingly significant the more I think about it.

People in countries worldwide have the right to vote, but not all are women. Few of these women had the opportunity to vote for a woman, as I did. Not only can I vote, but I can openly support or oppose any candidate for any reason. I admit, I would get frustrated when I heard more about Sarah Palin's wardrobe than her voting record, but that's just part of living in a free country.

People everywhere go to work every day, but few have the choices in a career that I do and even fewer have access to my level of education. Part of me takes pride in doing what is generally considered to be a man's job, and doing it as well as or better than most.

People everywhere marry every day, but few have parents and in-laws who are living examples of what a loving marriage should be. I credit the strength of our families for much of our success in our six-going-on-seven years.

I worship the god of my choice, the God my conscience guides me to and I am persecuted by no one.

I can eat any food I want, any time I want.

I could fill dozens of blog entries about how richly I am blessed, but one will have to suffice for now.

When it comes down to it, I live like royalty. I doubt many princesses have my work-worn hands or clip grocery coupons, but the contrast between my lifestyle and that of the overwhelming majority of the world is undeniable. At times it makes me feel guilty because I know I am no more or less deserving than anyone else, but all I can do is make the best of whatever situation I am presented with.

Play the hand you are dealt.

Easy for me to say.