I pray

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

By Joseph Schloss

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Around this time of year, as we draw a close to 2007 and leap forth into 2008, I find myself looking back on 2007 and reflecting on all that has taken place. I examine all that I attempted to accomplish and try to determine just how well I did. When I complete that task, I look at how well our community did and then our county, our state, the nation and then the world.

Clearly, this takes quite a bit of thought and often brings great joy at the successes and great sadness at the defeats. By and large, I feel that the new year is a time to embrace our fellow man and give back what we can.

So how do we go about doing this? First, take a look at the community in which we live. We are blessed with over 200 nonprofit organizations, all of which are striving to make our town and surrounding mountains a better place to live. Do you have the time in your life to participate with one of these organizations? If so, it’s a great way to make a difference. Take a stand, commit to a course of action and follow through in a way that reaffirms your position on the various causes. If you don’t have the time or inclination to actively participate, what about financially contributing to an organization that supports your ideas?

The important thing is that you find a way to give of yourself for the benefit of others or the greater good. If all of us just donated a few hours of our time per week, think of all the good that we could do. If we collectively put our mind to it, imagine what we could accomplish. My example is a small one that pertains to the Jackson Hole community, but what if we expanded that thought to our county, state and nation? Before long we would have a force multiplier that could tackle almost any issue regardless of magnitude.

So where does it stop? Well, it doesn’t have to stop. Solving problems and making our world a better place to live never really ends. As long as there are good people with good intentions the possibilities are endless. So during this holiday season I pray.
I pray for people to be tolerant of others. I pray for peace and lack of oppression. I pray for the strength to do the right thing even when outside forces are pulling you in the wrong direction. I pray for good health for all of the people that I know and all of the people that I don’t know.

I pray for strong government leaders who will do what is best for the nation regardless of what their detractors think. I pray for our children to grow into responsible adults who will cherish the land that we call America. I pray for a returning of life to a simpler time, when a man’s word was his bond.

I pray for everlasting beauty in the wonderful valley that we call Jackson Hole. I pray for plentiful game throughout our region that may be enjoyed by viewers, tourists, photographers, hunters and all who appreciate the great outdoors. I pray for a never-ending supply of good people who try to continually improve our community and nation. I pray for the best in each of us to overcome the adversity that life sometimes brings us.

And just when I think that my ideals and goals are too lofty to be realistic, I get an email from a friend: “May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline, and may laughter assault your lips. May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires, and may happiness slap you across the face and make your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had forget you home address. In simple words, may 2008 be the best year of your life!”

Joe Schloss is a former Special Agent for the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, political activist, Teton County GOP chairman, and member of the Wyoming GOP Central Committee.

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I pray | Planet JH News Article: Right Wing Local

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