Although I am retired, I work full-time for Compass Health. This is a community-based mental health agency which serves Snohomish, Skagit and Island Counties. I am a courier; I pick up and deliver client files and medications, inter-office mail and some U.S. mail. My route is fairly regular and I really enjoy the peaceful driving, about 225 miles daily.
Often I meet some of the clients that are utilizing the services of Compass Health. Depending on the services provided by a particular clinic, I may meet a drug addict, someone who is suffering from a mild depression, a schizophrenic who speaks to people who are not there or perhaps a person suffering bi-polar disease and simply cannot hold a job.
Most of these people need money, many need a place to live and they all need a smiling face. That is what I try to provide. I can tell that many of them are used to being treated like they are less than human. I don't do anything more than say "Hello" or "How's it goin'". But I always wait to hear their response. And they usually have one, too!
During my first day of training for the job (three years ago)I was introduced to Darrel. He works part-time at one of the larger facilities, where he is also a client. He is usually unkempt, with a few days growth of beard. He was friendly, though and quite talkative. I liked him.
About a week after I started driving the route alone, Darrel met me at the door and greeted me, "Pat Castro, how you doing?" We talked for maybe a minute or so and then I went about my business. As I drove away, I noticed that I felt different than when I arrived. It was Darrel! He changed my mood. I felt lighter, happier!
Over the next months, he told me that he was married. His wife is mentally ill, too. She must stay on her medication or very traumatic things begin to happen. Occasionally, she stops taking her meds. The first time, Darrel told me she had been gone for a month and he had no idea where she was! After another month he told me that she had finally called and she was in an institution. She had been found wandering and she was a mess. Each time Darrel told me about her, he would quote scripture. This man who looks like a bum, knows the Bible and has a personal faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ. He asked me to pray for Frannie,his wife. I said I would and he went off about his business.
She eventually came home and is doing fine now. I mean, she is taking her meds and is pretty stable. Darrel is a bit of a rascal and he is sometimes vulgar and uses a lot of profanity, though he never takes the Lord's name in vain.
My purpose in writing this is to try to understand why I love this guy so much. He is usually dirty, hair is gross-looking, he is constantly smoking and his favorite word is 'f_ _ _'. One day he had forgotten where he left his false teeth so he was toothless that day!!! But you know what, he is a wonderful, loving and caring man. He works at a job, he drives a car, he takes care of his wife (who is African-American. Darrel is white) and keeps an eye out for his mentally ill friends. What more is there in life than to work at a job, care for those you are close to and thank God for what you have?
I have learned a great deal from Darrel. My education is a very important part of my life and I spent my entire adult life trying to help others become life-long learners. But I have a deep and abiding respect and love for this mentally ill man, who has very little formal education and for whom life is exceedingly difficult. He trusts in God, believing He has a plan for him and knows the love of Jesus. What did I ever do to deserve a friendship with such a fine human being?? I can only assume that this has come by the "Grace of God Almighty".
The next time you see a bum, a hobo, a retard, a drunk, a homeless person, or a bag-lady, please think of my friend, Darrel. Those people are exactly that, they are people; like you and me. They have a story, they have a family, they have needs and dreams and all the same hopes as you and I. Pray for them. Just care.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
Count Your Blessings
Last Friday, September 3, 2010, RaeLyn and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. It is a wonderful milestone and we spent the weekend having a very enjoyable time in Leavenworth and Wenatchee, Washington. A glass of champagne, a beautiful red rose and a lot of laughing. It was very nice!
It made me think about what I am truly thankful for in this world. Almighty God has blessed me over and over and over in this life. However, I am most thankful for three blessings.
RaeLyn: We met in high school, in Spanish I class. From the first day of school we stared at each other. Eventually, we got to know one another a bit. We "went together" throughout high school and even into college. We married very young (I was 20 and she was 19). We both have done an incredible amount of growing and learning and exploring in our years together. She is, as most successful wives are, the strength of our family. Little would happen in our house were it not for her. She not only has my undying love, but my utmost respect. I thank God for her every day.
Jason: While I was teaching band in Dayton, Washington, we were performing in Pomeroy, Washington for a band festival. RaeLyn was pregnant with our first child. When the band bus arrived back at the high school, about 11:00 PM, our good friend, Jan, walked over to my room (she and her husband, Gordon, our best friends, lived across the street from the band room)and told me that RaeLyn had called and she needed to be taken to the hospital. Gordon had taken her. I rushed off to Dayton General Hospital and at 4:15 AM on March 15, 1978, our oldest child, Jason Patrick, was born. He changed our lives forever. He has brought nothing but joy, honor and blessing into our lives. He is the "jock" in our family and we have attended MANY athletic events in his support. He is now a highly respected high school teacher and coach (2010 2A Washington State Baseball Coach of the Year!!!). He is also the husband of a wonderful wife and Daddy to two beautiful daughters. I thank God for him and them every day.
Julie: Julie entered our world in 1982. We were living in Port Townsend. Her brother was very proud and very protective. We went to the park, we spent time at the beach. We went on picnics. We took up an interest in tent-camping. We all laughed together, played together and worshiped together. We were (and still are) a complete family. Julie was an honor-ladened art student in high school and still has a piece hanging in the Snohomish Public Library. Through college she continued her growth in becoming a very accomplished and uniquely creative artist. She is very much a person who thinks "outside the box". Her art is moving and deep. Her personality is warm, loving and delightful. She is a startlingly lovely woman and I am so proud of who she is and what she stands for. To her, I am "Pops" and to me, she is still "my little girl". I thank God for her every day.
Of course, there are so many blessing we experience in this life and to select only three might be a bit selfish. But I am certain that God knows my heart and He knows that I am grateful for all the many blessings that He has put in my life. And were He not to know this, He could read my blog!!!
It made me think about what I am truly thankful for in this world. Almighty God has blessed me over and over and over in this life. However, I am most thankful for three blessings.
RaeLyn: We met in high school, in Spanish I class. From the first day of school we stared at each other. Eventually, we got to know one another a bit. We "went together" throughout high school and even into college. We married very young (I was 20 and she was 19). We both have done an incredible amount of growing and learning and exploring in our years together. She is, as most successful wives are, the strength of our family. Little would happen in our house were it not for her. She not only has my undying love, but my utmost respect. I thank God for her every day.
Jason: While I was teaching band in Dayton, Washington, we were performing in Pomeroy, Washington for a band festival. RaeLyn was pregnant with our first child. When the band bus arrived back at the high school, about 11:00 PM, our good friend, Jan, walked over to my room (she and her husband, Gordon, our best friends, lived across the street from the band room)and told me that RaeLyn had called and she needed to be taken to the hospital. Gordon had taken her. I rushed off to Dayton General Hospital and at 4:15 AM on March 15, 1978, our oldest child, Jason Patrick, was born. He changed our lives forever. He has brought nothing but joy, honor and blessing into our lives. He is the "jock" in our family and we have attended MANY athletic events in his support. He is now a highly respected high school teacher and coach (2010 2A Washington State Baseball Coach of the Year!!!). He is also the husband of a wonderful wife and Daddy to two beautiful daughters. I thank God for him and them every day.
Julie: Julie entered our world in 1982. We were living in Port Townsend. Her brother was very proud and very protective. We went to the park, we spent time at the beach. We went on picnics. We took up an interest in tent-camping. We all laughed together, played together and worshiped together. We were (and still are) a complete family. Julie was an honor-ladened art student in high school and still has a piece hanging in the Snohomish Public Library. Through college she continued her growth in becoming a very accomplished and uniquely creative artist. She is very much a person who thinks "outside the box". Her art is moving and deep. Her personality is warm, loving and delightful. She is a startlingly lovely woman and I am so proud of who she is and what she stands for. To her, I am "Pops" and to me, she is still "my little girl". I thank God for her every day.
Of course, there are so many blessing we experience in this life and to select only three might be a bit selfish. But I am certain that God knows my heart and He knows that I am grateful for all the many blessings that He has put in my life. And were He not to know this, He could read my blog!!!
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