I have had a little pain since I fell on my side 10 days ago. The pain is a 1, unless I try to lift my left leg. Then it can become a 2 or 3.

I have had a smile on my face, since I was born. I am just a happy guy.

While I was in the pool this morning, looking up at the trees, the sky and beyond, I did a little thinking.

Why am I smiling if I am in pain?  I mean, plenty of people don’t smile, and they are likely not in pain. If they were, you might expect a scowl.

I communed with God about my leg pain, my happy-to-be-alive thoughts, and about how short is this life on earth. 

I talked to God about how this year could be called 15,500,004,023.  That is a lot of years for the planet to develop, but not many years for man to have developed a peaceful bent. Man’s mere two million years of development is but a drop in the bucket. That probably is why so many of us are as uncivilized as we are.

I reckon in another million years there is a chance we humans could be peaceful.  I won’t be here, but it’s nice to think, to hope, that someone will. 

I smile because I am content.  I have everything I want, even more.
 
I have a concerned wife.  I have caring children.  I have family.  I have time to pursue my interests.  I have my health.  And I am alive. 

When my leg pain disappears, will I smile more broadly? Perhaps I will see more clearly how each day is special enough to let others know I care — an email, a phone call, a smile to those passing by. 

Join together with those who value life, who value civilization, who value a smile.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com