Some Editing and Formatting Help

     As some readers know, my son Ben spent from July 2011 through June 2012 traveling around the world on a mission trip through a program called The World Race.  An avid writer, during his trip Ben posted more than 85 blog entries, sharing his thoughts, observations, and inspirations throughout the year.  He's now been compiling all of these posts into one document as part of an independent study project through school.  Believe it or not, the document totals over 100,000 words and roughly 180 pages of single-spaced writing!

     I suggested to Ben today that it might be easier to upload the document to FedexOffice for printing, after the editing is done.  Since I'm pretty familiar with editing and formatting in Microsoft Word from my book-writing experience, I offered to "clean up" the document for him and get it prepared for printing.  Of course, this is never as quick and easy as one expects.  If you've ever tried it, you know that you can spend a ridiculous amount to time trying to get one simple formatting issue (like pagination) to be the way you want it.  Anyway, after some considerable time, I was able to get it looking "right" and ready to print tomorrow.  By the way, if anyone is interested in getting an electronic version of the PDF, just let me know.  I'm sure Ben would be happy to share it.

     While I've purposely tried to focus the majority of my kindness attention outside of my circle of family and close friends this year, I never want to lose sight of the fact that charity (and kindness) does start at home.  Sometimes the best chances to be kind are right in front of us.

A Great Example

     I've written several times this year about my son Ben's mission trip around the world through a program known as The World Race.  Ben took a year off from college to devote his energy to serving people from all walks of life.  During that time he spent a month in each of 11 different countries - Serbia, Romania, India, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines.  

     Below is an 11-minute video Ben created that gives a glimpse into the lives of people in many parts of the world, their joy despite hardship, and the joy that comes from the selfless serving of others.  (You can click on the picture below to view the video, or you can go to this link as well:  http://youtu.be/5Zcmo7XaWqw).  I'm sharing the video because I think it's inspiring and demonstrates the real power of kindness.  I hope you'll share it with others as another act of kindness.

     For me, the video is also a reminder of the common bond we all share.  When I see the faces of the children, in particular, I realize that people are mostly the same all over the world.  I also realize just how fortunate I am to have been born at this time, in this place, in this family, and in these circumstances.  I did nothing to deserve that.  I'm simply incredibly lucky.  While I need not apologize for that good fortune, I can certainly appreciate it and I can certainly devote some of my energy and resources toward helping those who, through no fault of their own, weren't born as lucky as me.

Welcome Home, Ben!

     As many readers know, my son Ben has been away since last July on an 11-month mission trip through a program called The World Race.  It's been an extraordinary journey for him, having spent a month each in Serbia, Romania, India, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and The Philippines.  (You can read his truly inspiring blog here.) Needless to say, we're immensely proud of him, but have missed him terribly as well.  Several months ago, we received an e-mail from him letting us know that he'd be arriving home to the States on the evening of June 9th, in Los Angeles, before catching his final flight home to Philadelphia.  I knew then (actually, I knew the day he left!), that I was going to be there in LA to surprise him, welcome him home, and accompany him on the final leg of his journey.  

     On Friday morning, I flew out to LA and spent the following 30 hours or so visiting with a cousin who I had not seen in almost 15 years.  We had a great time together, but of course, I was counting the hours till I would finally get to see Ben.  Ben's plane was to land around 6:50 pm Saturday and our flight home wasn't until 12:35 am, though he didn't know I'd be with him.  My plan was to go to the gate and wait for him there.  

     My cousin dropped me off at the airport around 8:45 Saturday evening and I immediately went to the US Air counter to check-in.  While I was doing so, who jumps on my back but Ben?!  It turns out that he was just 2 kiosks over, checking in at the same time, and I hadn't even seen him!  Apparently he saw me, but for a few seconds wasn't sure it was me because he wasn't expecting it.  We spent the next several hours getting something to eat and trying to catch up.  

     We made it to Philadelphia around 8:30 am where my wife was there to greet him/us.  By 9:40, we were back in Moorestown, and after a quick shower (Ben's first hot shower in months), and a bagel (his first bagel in nearly a year), he and Catherine were out of the house at 10:25 and on their way to church!

     As anyone who has been away, or had loved ones away for a long time, knows, time is such a strange concept.  In some ways, it feels like it's been forever since Ben first left.  And yet, at the same time, it seems like just yesterday.  Having him home doesn't seem strange at all, like he belongs here, though I realize he'll be gone again soon (back to college in August).  I'm glad I made the effort to travel across the country to be there when he arrived.  We don't get many moments like that in our lives, and I wasn't going to miss the chance.