Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com March 15, 2017 By Shanana "Rain" BearCat LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be pub- lished. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" BearCat CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Jedidiah Free GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain Just Rambling... Provided by Elmer London, Quartzsite and Desert Messenger DEADLINE : WED. MARCH 29 TH for the april 5 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com Neighborhood Watch to meet Thurs. APRIL 6 Town of Quartzsite invites every- one to attend the next meeting of Neighborhood Watch at 6:00 PM, on THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017, at the Quartzsite Com- munity Center. Chief William Ponce said he looks forward to working with the resi- dents to create a safer community. Launched in 1972, Neighbor- hood Watch counts on citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their pres- ence at all times of day and night. Sponsored by the National Sher- iffs' Association (NSA), the Nation- al Crime Prevention Council says, "Neighborhood watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the coun- try, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer." For more information contact the Quartzsite Police Department at 928-927-4644. It has been a diffi cult week, as a good friend prepared for her last journey on this earth. As I sat with my dying mother almost 20 years ago, I witnessed fi rst hand the sa- credness of dying. My elders say, If you feel you belong to some- thing, you'll treat it with respect. If you feel you are above something, you'll treat it with disrespect. It's all how we approach life, and our attitude about life and death. It takes great strength and cour- age to face death and to begin to move through it to the other side. And it takes great courage for the survivors to put aside their own fears and anxieties to help their loved ones die a peaceful death." ― Megory Anderson, Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life Having a heart that never hardens is not as easy as it sounds. All of us have been hurt or angered by some- one's words at some point. Accord- ing to Leslie Ralph, "When we are hurting or angry, loving-kindness can be especially challenging. It is therefore empowering to practice loving-kindness not simply in spite of feeling hurt, but because we have been hurt." All major religions teach us to treat others with kindness, but some of us forget that and lash out towards those they fear, are different, or misunderstood. Witnessing a loved one cross over is not an easy thing, and how we handle ourselves in this stressful situation will either help or hinder the process. Loving-kindness involves wishing peace, joy, and tenderness for others. To those making their fi nal journey, I offer this: Sing your death song and die like a hero going home. Why is the gap between two words, independent and dependency growing shorter? Are we being led by the nose? Have we lost the desire too independently shape our lives? Are we so self centered we are no longer our brothers keepers? The difference between need and desire, a puzzling dilemma! "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." ~Dalai Lama

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