Life Guard
Another hot day at the pool with lots of kids shrieking and playing and splashing. She was in her 4th summer of life guarding and took her job seriously. These people, while she was in the chair, were her responsibility, and she guarded their lives attentively.
But lately, she had been noticing some of the kids who regularly came to the pool came alone. They were obviously poor and maybe a bit malnourished. Some even showed signs of possible abuse. They seemed pitiful and unwanted and her heart went out to them. She taught some of them how to swim but her heart desperately wanted to do more for them. But what? What could she do? How could she make their lives better?
And then one day, a busy 90 degree day, and the pool was full and the noise level high, she saw him. He was one of her students, one of the most pitiful. She was sure he was unloved and his parents didn't care about him. He had almost said as much at times when she was teaching him. She saw him and waved and he waved back. His day was always made better by seeing his teacher. And then he started to drown.
And she knew she had to do something for him and so she chose what she thought was best for him, what would do him, and society, the most good. She did what many others in her position would do, and, in fact have done countless times.
She turned her head and let him drown.
He is better off this way. No one wants him anyway. His mother and society will be relieved of the burden. He has been forced on us long enough. It's his body, his life, let him drown.
You haven't heard this story? It has been in the news lately, all over the place. Lifeguards charged with the care of others, turn away from those who are drowning. Many even partake in the drowning of people who can't speak for themselves since they are under water. Oh, we don't call them lifeguards per say; we sometimes call them doctors or mothers or fathers, but their job is essentially the same. Caring for others, protecting life, doing no harm. And in the name of convenience and financial and societal good, we watch the lifeguards let the little ones drown.
What makes a life worth living?
Who decided we can be God? Who elevated us to His pay grade? Who said we get to choose whose life is worthy of living and whose isn't?
We did.
May God have mercy on us.
The idea for this story was not my own, but rather that of a nineteen year old lifeguard. A lifeguard who has risked her own safety to save others who were drowning.
But lately, she had been noticing some of the kids who regularly came to the pool came alone. They were obviously poor and maybe a bit malnourished. Some even showed signs of possible abuse. They seemed pitiful and unwanted and her heart went out to them. She taught some of them how to swim but her heart desperately wanted to do more for them. But what? What could she do? How could she make their lives better?
And then one day, a busy 90 degree day, and the pool was full and the noise level high, she saw him. He was one of her students, one of the most pitiful. She was sure he was unloved and his parents didn't care about him. He had almost said as much at times when she was teaching him. She saw him and waved and he waved back. His day was always made better by seeing his teacher. And then he started to drown.
And she knew she had to do something for him and so she chose what she thought was best for him, what would do him, and society, the most good. She did what many others in her position would do, and, in fact have done countless times.
She turned her head and let him drown.
He is better off this way. No one wants him anyway. His mother and society will be relieved of the burden. He has been forced on us long enough. It's his body, his life, let him drown.
You haven't heard this story? It has been in the news lately, all over the place. Lifeguards charged with the care of others, turn away from those who are drowning. Many even partake in the drowning of people who can't speak for themselves since they are under water. Oh, we don't call them lifeguards per say; we sometimes call them doctors or mothers or fathers, but their job is essentially the same. Caring for others, protecting life, doing no harm. And in the name of convenience and financial and societal good, we watch the lifeguards let the little ones drown.
What makes a life worth living?
Who decided we can be God? Who elevated us to His pay grade? Who said we get to choose whose life is worthy of living and whose isn't?
We did.
May God have mercy on us.
The idea for this story was not my own, but rather that of a nineteen year old lifeguard. A lifeguard who has risked her own safety to save others who were drowning.
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