Month: August 2021

2,443 People And 2 Trillion Dollars…

2,443 people and 2 trillion dollars. That’s the number of service members who died from oversees duty in Afghanistan and the amount of money that was spent by the United States on all the war efforts we had there over 20 years of time.

As I sit here and reflect on those numbers and the sudden Taliban takeover of Afghanistan just over a week or so ago now, I am extremely saddened. Saddened for the people still there who don’t want to be there anymore. Saddened for all those who can’t escape. Saddened for all those lives lost over there. Saddened for all the families affected by those lives lost. And saddened for each of those who returned home and have PTSD now, have become homeless, are addicted to drugs, or worse. I’ve met several of them.

People continue to compare what happened in Afghanistan to what happened in Vietnam. I wasn’t alive for the majority of the Vietnam War and was only three years old when it finally ended, so I can’t comment on any potential comparison. What I do know is that the $300 million that was spent per day in Afghanistan for 20 consecutive years could have changed countless lives for the better here within our own borders, through any number of programs. From hunger to homelessness, health care to addiction, and everything in between, I struggle to fathom all the financial waste our country put into the Afghanistan war and many other wars as well.

I’m sure there are many veterans who served in Afghanistan struggling right now to understand why they were even over there given the Taliban now have full control of the country. I personally have worked in the 12 Step recovery field with a few veterans of this war myself, who are mentally and emotionally unstable now, living with massive PTSD because of their time served there. The struggles they’ve had using drugs to cope with it all seems like it was so unnecessary and shouldn’t have ever happened in the first place.

Why our country must always put ourselves into the affairs of other countries when we have countless struggles going on here that are desperate for help, I have no idea. I’m not a fan of war, or violence, and have lived long enough now to know that much of our country’s money is spent on military efforts outside our borders.

I’m sure many of the veterans of this war itself believed in what they were doing for their years served. But seeing how none of it matters now, I can’t even fathom what they must be feeling, especially those who lost limbs, sight, hearing, or became disabled in some other way from their time over there.

I also feel sorrow for every single person living in our country who has family in Afghanistan still. I know of one person going through this presently and how deeply it’s affecting them, how powerless, and helpless they feel over it all and my heart reaches out to them and others just like them.

While I’m all for protecting our borders for any threats that may hit our soil, I’m definitely not in support of putting our countries interests in the affairs of other countries, because it always seems to come at the expense of our soldiers and many of our citizens as well.

That’s why I pray that the U.S. will one day stop spending so much money on military efforts and instead work more on bringing peace amongst ourselves here in our own borders, as there are countless people in need in every city, of every state, and probably even on the very street you live on.

Nevertheless, my prayers go out to all those who have been affected by the war in Afghanistan, who are presently experiencing the pain and brokenness of it all. May you each be comforted in knowing I care and may you all receive blessings in your efforts to heal and come to a place of  peace within.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Silly Joke Friday

Silly Joke #1

A young pastor was sitting in his favorite restaurant eating lunch. He opened a letter he’d just received that morning from his mom. As he opened it a twenty-dollar bill fell out. He thought to himself, thanks, Mom, I sure needed that right now. As he finished his meal, he noticed a beggar outside on the sidewalk leaning against the light post. Thinking that the poor man could probably use the twenty dollars more than he, he crossed out the names on the envelope and wrote across the top in large letters, PERSEVERE! So as not to make a scene, he put the envelope under his arm and dropped it as he walked past the man. The man picked it up and read the message and smiled. The next day, as the pastor enjoyed another meal at his favorite place to dine, the beggar tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a big wad of bills. Surprised, the young pastor asked him what that was for. The beggar replied, “This is your half of the winnings. Persevere came in first in the fourth race at the track yesterday and paid thirty to one!”

Silly Joke #2

A man in his late 30’s rushes into the hotel lobby after exiting the elevator. He had flown in last night for a very important meeting this morning, which he was now running late for. He sprints up to the front desk and hammers on the bell. “Good morning, sir”, says the blonde receptionist who suddenly appeared from the office situated behind the front desk. “I’m in a hurry ma’am, could you check me out, please?” The blonde clerk stares at him, looks him up and down and immediately says, “Not bad, not bad at all!!!”

Silly Joke #3

A kind-hearted fellow was walking through Central Park in New York and was astonished to see an old man at the pond there, fishing rod in hand, fishing over a beautiful bed of lilies where his lure wasn’t even fully in the water. “Tch Tch!” said the passerby to himself. “What a sad sight. That poor old man is never going to catch anything! I’ll see if I can help.” So the kind fellow walked up to the old man and asked, “What are you doing, my friend?” “Fishin’, sir.” “Fishin’, eh. Well how would you like to come have a drink with me?” The old man stood up, put his rod away and followed the kind stranger to a bar nearby. He then ordered a large glass of beer. His host, the kind fellow, felt good about helping the old man, and asked, “Tell me, old friend, how many did you catch this morning?” The old fellow took a big gulp from his tasty beer and replied, “You are the sixth today, my friend!”

Bonus Silly Joke (Adult Humor)

Little Johnny was sitting in class doing math problems when his teacher picked him to answer a question: “Johnny, if there were five birds sitting on a fence and you shot one with a gun, how many would be left ?” “None.”, replied Johnny. “’cause the rest would fly off.” “The correct answer is four,” said the teacher. “But I like the way you think.” Little Johnny said, “I have a question for you now. If there were three women eating ice cream cones in a shop, one licking her cone, the second biting her cone, and the third one sucking her cone, which one is married ? “Well,” said the teacher nervously, “I’ll guess it’s the one sucking her cone?” “Nope,” said Little Johnny, “It’s the one with the wedding ring on her finger. But I like the way you think!”

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Thought For The Day

Quote #1

“It is not so important what deeds we do when time are good, but what good we do in bad times.” (Jeffrey Fry)

Quote #2

“You can’t travel the back roads very long without discovering a multitude of gentle people doing good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition. The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines. Some people out there spend their whole lives selflessly.” (Charles Kuralt)

Quote #3

“Every time you do a good deed, you shine the light a little further into the dark. And the thing is, when you’re gone that light is going to keep shining on, pushing the shadows back.” Charles de Lint)

Bonus Quote

“If you offer your free time to help out at a charity or to read to an older person or silly to give someone something without ever expecting a thank you, it’s amazing how much more you are able to notice the blessings which fill your life.” (Josh Austin)

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson