Saturday, May 7, 2011

Chaos and Trust


"It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust. "
    -- Samuel Johnson



Last week my dad died.  He was 90 and all his systems were shutting down ... it was his time.  When my mom died three years ago, all he wanted to do was die also.  But his life veered off on a different path, in some ways good, in some ways simply bizarre.  He met, befriended and was befriended by a soap opera cast of characters and I got a glimpse into a world of "tweakers" where jobs are rare and truth is rarer. 

It's probably an old story ... young women with a seedy past and few prospects and an old man, lonely with nothing to live for.  For three years they entertained him, gave him something to look forward to ... and took his money.  He didn't have much so it probably balanced out.  But, as he approached death and then died, the feeding frenzy over his already bare-bones estate escalated into a chaotic torrent of accusations, counter-accusations, police involvement and a blizzard of phone calls.

Trying to handle by phone the mountain of details that accompany death meant dealing with these people and with numerous police officers who kept getting called into the mix.  I am basically a trusting person and will believe anything someone tells me until I find out it's not true.  This past week offered me a lot of finding out.  It made me realize how precious truth and trust are.  Once those are gone, life is a very uncertain place.

This morning, I sit in my office looking out at this bright green day with the sound of weed-whacking overwhelming the calls of the blue jays and woodpeckers and I am grateful for every true sound and for every person in my life who tells me the truth and has proven themselves completely trustworthy.  I've taken that truth and trustworthiness for granted for way too long.

And, I take the moral from Sam Johnson ... it is still better to trust people and be wrong occasionally than not to trust at all ... that would be hell.

6 comments:

  1. ". . . Dignity will hold the heart to grace. . . ." ~ John O'Donohue

    Thinking of you in your time of loss, dear Joyce.

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  2. OMG. What a familiar tale... I have a book for you to read: very amusing take on this old story. Published by Penguin, it's called A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, and it's a little miracle of humor and insight into daughters, fathers, sisters, aging, family... all that stuff.

    I'm sorry doesn't really cover what I'm feeling for you; just know my heart is feeling with you...

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  3. Dearest Joyce -- my heart and thoughts are with you. I was about to call you re 'the trip' but will wait a few days to give you time to heal.

    Hugs and much love,

    Louise

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  4. Lyn and I are sorry to learn of your father's death. May you be consoled by the encouragement of friends and the comfort of Christ.

    ddb

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  5. Just caught up on your blogging. As always, your thoughts are so well expressed. Love your church poster and I know that you will be of great value in the fund raising process. I'm also keeping you in my thoughts as you process your recent journey through the loss of your Dad. No matter what, loss is always difficult.
    Caterpillar into metal chair holes is fabulous....you found just the right combination! I will try to save it to my creative idea file!
    Judy

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  6. Thanks to all of you for your comments and support.
    "Tractors in Ukranian" ... now there's a title that would make me pick up the book! Now on my way to amazon. ;-)

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