Motivation through trials

Returning from memorial day weekend out at Camp Emerald Bay I was feeling pretty content. The good community, fellowship and fun times really made the island a place I want to go back to. However, since I have two more weeks of school I grudgingly had to return to the mainland. After catching the ferry and then driving to the Fullerton train station I was worried about my transportation home. If all went as planned I would arrive in SLO after 11:45pm. The thought of walking back from the train station at midnight didn't scare me as much as missing my bus connection in Santa Barbara.
After buying one of the last tickets to SLO, I meandered outside to enjoy the 2 hour wait before the train came. Occasionally a huge freight train would roar past, rattling the windows and doors around me. Other then myself there were few passengers waiting on the station's patio. Peace and tranquil, I slowly let go of the stress I was feeling over finals and the train and began to doze off in the warm afternoon sunlight. Suddenly and unexpectedly, a woman's cry of pain shook me awake. A shoot of adrenaline coursed through me as I look around for the reason of the cry. Right in front of me, bent over and leaning on crutches was a short, overweight women who appeared to be in her 30's. Dressed in baggy but colorful short and shorts, the women wore a cast on her leg. Her companion was a African American male who was trying to help. What struck me as strange wasn't the situation but that a huge grin was painted across his face. I was shocked! How could he be so inconsiderate to this women who was obviously in extreme pain?
The women looked up and looked directly at me. Even at the distance I could see pain and fatigue in her eyes. But then, expectantly she spoke to me. "I'm pregnant with my fathers child because he raped me. I have cancer and my knee needs surgery. Praise God! God is Good!"

I didn't move. My heart beat in a slow thump, thump, thump rhythm. God is Good, I asked myself? Where can such a person, who has endured such pain and suffering, find God? I came back to reality as the women cried out in pain again, this time loud enough for everyone to look up. I could tell she was having difficultly in even walking but I couldn't think of anything to do. I felt helpless, frustrated and drained.

Thinking on this experience more I began to contemplate the life I live. So much of the wealth I have is taken for granted. Health, Family, Finance, Food, Security as well as Freedom. How easy is it for us to worry about whether well miss the bus or not and forget about the more important things in life. If there is one thing I never want to forget it is that simply living is a blessing from God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYWPLxVJca0&feature=player_embedded