Realizing what is important.

June 25, 11:19 PMLA Religion & Spirituality ExaminerKevin Masterson

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Last week I was watching 20/20 and they talked about what is being called by some economists as “The Great Reset” in this country as a result of the financial downturn. That people are starting to change their priorities from material objects to what is our most precious resource:  each other.

This has been a really great lesson in that most precious resource. On Tuesday morning I was woken up by a phone call from my friend, Mario, telling me that Ed McMahon had died. I had the privilege to get to know Ed & his lovely wife Pam and two of their children, Lex & Kathryn a little bit over the past year.  When I first met Ed, I couldn’t help but think about the history, the legend, the life experience that he carried with him and yet he was so unassuming. Ed was the epitome of grace & class. He was the meaning of the word, gentleman.

I was lucky enough to spend last Thanksgiving with the McMahon’s. What was so impressive is that they let their staff off for the day to be with their families. So everyone pitched in, cooked & cleaned up.  They realized what was important. It was a beautiful dinner: interesting people, great food & great conversation. Ed got up & spoke before dinner & said how thankful he was to have his two new granddaughters—Addison & Madison there. He also made everyone laugh as only he could do. Ed realized what is important.

That night at I sat at the same table as a major economist (I can’t remember his name).  Of course the main topic of discussion was money, the economy, etc. I remember him saying that a lot of what determined the economy was our perceptions & our attitudes.  He talked about the need for people to get away from such a materialistic mindset & to develop a more humanistic mindset. Obviously things weren’t that bad for all of us sitting at that table. We weren’t homeless or hungry. His words gave everyone at the table a major shift in perspective.

Today was a series of wake up calls.  There’s an old expression that if God wants to get you attention first he’ll throw a pebble, then a stone, then a brick & then if you’re still not paying attention he’ll roll a boulder on top of you. This morning really seemed to be one of those days.  First I woke up to hear that sweet Farrah Fawcett had died.  I’d never met her, but I was so touched by her courage & her openness in “Farrah’s Story.”  All my friends who know her told me that she really was an angel, so sweet.

It touched me the most in “Farrah’s Story” when Ryan O’Neal brought their son, Redmond in to see her, to say goodbye to his mother. Ryan realized what is important.

In the early afternoon, I went into a panic mode (only for a minute) as I went to the bank & thought I’d lost a check. I raced home, praying all the way that I’d find it. I did.  Then I got a message from my mother, telling me that my cousin, Steve Owens from Texas had died.  He’d battled brain cancer bravely for over a year. He courageously faced his challenge and was very much at peace. Steve was one of those everyday heroes:  son, husband, brother, dad, coach & schoolteacher. My mother told me that he’d told his mother, my Aunt Nancy that he wasn’t afraid to die.  He leaves behind his wife Marsa, who recently battled breast cancer and three children.   

My mother was on the phone trying to get a flight to Houston to be there for the funeral & more importantly to be there for my aunt, her sister with whom she is very close.  She realized what is important.

Then the biggest shocker of the day: the death of Michael Jackson. I was fortunate enough to meet Michael years ago. I was struck by his childlike nature. He really was a true life Peter Pan. I saw Jermaine Jackson on CNN tonight. It was obvious how in shock he was. How much he loved his brother. He realized what is important. 

My heart goes out to every one of the immediate families of all four of these great souls:  Ed, Farrah, Steven & Michael. Each of them made the world better by their being in it. Each of them realized what is important.