My friend collapsed when I wasn’t paying attention. Trying to catch all of the words from the volunteer leading the hike and talking about geology, I’d moved forward into my own zone. A zone penetrated by a stranger’s concerned query to my friend: “Are you all right?”
She wasn’t. She collapsed, sinking against the strong thighs of the hiker behind her. The hike master paced the trail to find cell phone reception. Another hiker loped down the trail to guide in rescue units. I poured water over her head and the back of her neck. We all stood tall and pretended that we were shade trees, feeling helpless in these critical moments.
Fire station 3’s crew and the EMTs arrived within minutes of one another. Their swift actions told them that the mid-morning heat was not entirely the cause of her distress. I followed the gurney down the bumpy trail and the siren through choking fair parade traffic to the hospital.
Today I am grateful that my friend is recovering, that the miracles of medical science have identified the source of her collapse. And I muse on the similarities between that experience and how we all have become distracted hikers walking the national deficit trail.
We’re haven’t been paying attention. Vested interests are taking advantage of our non-focus. Wealthy partisan opponents of the president are buying TV time to urge us not to give Obama another “blank check.” If we carefully read this newspaper and others, we learn that “Obama’s debt” has accounted for less than 2 percent of our national deficit. Are we paying attention to these economic EMTs?
If we read faith publications, we learn that 20 percent of our population now controls 80 percent of the national wealth. (Pew Trust study). We learn that between 1947 and 1979 the income of the poorest 20 percent grew by 116 percent. From 1979 until 2008, income for the poor shrank by 4 percent while the rich gained a 73 percent increase (UMC Board of Church and Society). Is this faithful witness?
How are and will we provide shade for our friends who are homeless, who have watched their retirement savings vanish, who have searched in vain for a job to support their families? How will we educate our youth to compete in a global job market while assuring that the poorest among us can access that education?
We have been following the sirens through partisan political traffic for too long.
The siren sings of entitlement: “Give way. I’ve earned it!” But, in the hospital ER, the symphony sings “Work together; get the data; talk to the patient; search for the best outcome.” My friend is recovering because of that orchestrated effort.
We came together on that trail to assist a fellow traveler in distress. In the larger instance, we are all fellow travelers in this national debate. We come together, or we sacrifice others. Whom are you willing to sacrifice?
Sue B. Mullins lives in Loveland. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
