Rolling Pennies In The Dark

"For me and the millions of people across the planet who had or have it much worse than me, a recurring questions is "What's the point?"

For many of our fellow human beings in indescribable pain, it's natural to contemplate any and all ways to end such unbearable and unrelenting pain. Sometimes the black abyss just beyond the edge of the cliff looks like the answer. The only answer.

"What's the point?"

For some who are beaten down by the ravages of poverty and life, there is no point. Unless we can magically transpose ourselves into such people's horrific lives, then we have no business judging them. Sympathize, empathize, and help. But unless they commit crimes against civilized society, judge not.

As someone who has encountered some of the worst that life has to offer, I would only tell those standing at the edge of that abyss and considering the worst to step back as I did.

I would tell them - scream at them - that there is a point. There truly is. And that point, at least for me, is faith" (Pg 188).

In the book, Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon, his is truly a memoir with a message. A message about what it's like to grow up poor, without food for days at a time, raised by parents who's goal in life was to find their way into the next Vodka bottle and forget about the 3 children they had. It's a harsh reality that springs to life on the pages of this book that really make you take a hard look at those you encounter on the streets or schools sometimes. That life isn't as easy for some as it is for others and those without, grow up thinking that their life is about as normal as it's supposed to be. They just have to keep trying to move forward in anyway they can. It is truly unforgettable.

Being a huge book lover, I find myself challenging myself to step outside my favorite book genres and read memoirs to see a different side of life than the one I had growing up. It's passages like this one that really make a connection for me:

" As we were driving, I noticed a hardcover copy of The Wizard of Oz lying on the floor at my feet. Having nothing better to do than watch my dad's head slip closer and closer to the steering wheel on the way to a drunken mini-coma, I picked up the book and started reading the first page. By the end of the night, I had read the entire book.

For me, it was magic. By reading The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, I was able to magically and instantly transport myself far away from the hunger, dirt and uncertainty that were my life. Because of the talent and gift of an author, I was able to immerse myself in written words that possessed a very real and tangible healing power. To me, it was nothing short of a minor miracle.

As long as there were words on a page, I had the opportunity to travel back in time, across vast oceans, to mythical lands, or into outer space. I had the chance to escape and give my battered mind a much-needed reprieve." (Pg 34-35).

I received Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I think we all need to read books like this, if nothing more than to open our eyes up to the people around us that we may encounter who desperately need help in any way we can. We come from a nation that is truly blessed and the reality is, that is we all worked together, there would be no more homeless people, orphaned children, and people doing without anymore. I would encourage you all to read this amazing memoir and see if it doesn't truly impact you in a powerful way. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Rolling Pennies in the Dark, Douglas MacKinnon or where to pick up a copy of this wonderful memoir, please click on the link below:

Rolling Pennies in the Dark by Douglas MacKinnon

Just How Far Are You Willing to Go?

It seems like the world around us is falling apart. People are getting sick, having more health issues, more surgeries, more financial issues, and in general finding it hard to make it in this world any more. Yet it seems like when I look around, all I can see is people burrowing in deeper and deeper. Avoiding stares, their neighbors and trying to keep their heads down and keep to themselves, while all around us people are in need of our help.

I even hear excuses that people are tired of helping everyone else and that it's someone else's turn to help. That just because help is needed, they are sick of being the one to do it. Really?

I'm not asking people to consider having people move in with them or emptying their bank accounts, but what I do notice takes me back to the Amish way of life. Where community isn't just about who your neighbors are but it may include others you don't really know but live near you. Whenever a crisis hits the Amish community, they rally together and the entire community helps out. They bring food, supplies, tools, whatever the crisis calls for in need, they supply in abundance. They don't keep records of whom they helped, or how many times they've been there for others, how much it has cost them in supplies, they simply do as much as they can.

What if our neighborhoods were so much more like the Amish community? What if people stopped living for themselves and looked out for others. The Amish believe that God will provide their daily needs so they don't worry about tomorrow. They don't worry about the things they didn't get to yesterday, they focus on today.

It makes me wonder, and I am just as guilty of this as most, how many of our neighbors could use help in some way? Perhaps someone is sick and could use the help in cleaning or watching their kids so they can get some rest. Perhaps it's someone who recently had surgery and they can't get out to visit, what about going to visit them, bring them a meal that they can simply pop in the oven or their favorite dessert, or perhaps taking care of some much needed errands for them.

I think the problem lies with simply being too selfish. We are simply too worried about ourselves, our families needs and what will happen if we help and it's never returned when we have a need. The thoughts should be who cares if they remember our needs when we are hurting. Jesus reminded us to take care of the poor, the sick, the needy, the widowed, the single parents, and I would wager that you know of someone who could use your help, but they will never ask out of pride. Yet if you showed up with genuine concern, not only would you find your help appreciated, but we would show them just what being a Christian means.

I think the Amish do a great job as teaching the world what it means to be followers of Christ. They aren't perfect and too often the world spends too much time trying to figure out their motives, instead of just seeing that what they do, is simply done if love, no conditions, no paybacks, or records of how often they have come through for others. What a different world this would be!

Sure there are bound to be people that would take advantage of our kindness, but I think the world would be better off with more kindness than worrying about greed. Greed is our motivation now, what's in it for us, for our families, if we help out. I think that is sending people the wrong message. If you think about it, God supplies our daily needs, not weekly, yearly or ten years from now, but just for today. So in the world today, there are enough families for orphans to love and care for, their is enough medicine to take care of those in need, there is enough food and water for everyone, and the world could be a better place.

We need to be willing to step outside our comfort zones and stop waiting for someone else to do it, we need to be the ones. If we could motivate our homes to help, then our neighbors, then our communities, cities, counties and states, the world would look a whole lot different.

Just how far are you willing to go to help someone out today?

The challenge has been issued.