Jay Evensen
  • Front Page
  • Opinions
  • Second Thoughts
  • Portfolio
  • Awards
  • About

The spirit of Christmas? Look at contrast in these stories

12/18/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Most people, it seems, missed the contrast between two recent big stories — one that says a lot about the Christmas season, what really matters and what offers false hope.

On one side was Mega Millions — the almost unfathomable fortune that, as I write this, was to be divided evenly between two as-yet unidentified winners.

On the other side was Cecil Williams, a 60-year-old Brooklyn resident who relies on his guide dog, Orlando,

because he is blind.

Tuesday morning, while standing on a subway platform, Williams became dizzy and fell onto the tracks. Witnesses said Orlando did everything he could to rescue his fallen master from an oncoming train, to no avail. Finally, the dog jumped onto the tracks and sat in front of Williams, as if to guard him. People on the platform either ran for help or yelled at Williams to lie down in the trough between the tracks.

In the nick of time, both Williams and Orlando obeyed. Neither was seriously injured when the train came to a stop above them.

But the story didn’t end there. While Williams and Orlando were recovering together in a hospital, reporters learned that Orlando was about to be retired as a guide dog. Insurance no longer would cover Williams’ cost of keeping his loyal protector.

Once word got out, donations started coming, with New Yorkers quickly giving enough to make sure Williams can take care of Orlando for life.

Years ago, as a cub reporter for United Press International in New York City, I covered a New York lottery press conference. A lottery official, sensing my youth and inexperience, kept trying to tell me I looked like a lucky person and ought to buy a ticket.

Fortunately, I was not as gullible as I must have looked, but I have never forgotten the false note of his compliments.

What hopes does the lottery offer? The website webmath.com explains it well. To understand your odds of winning a big jackpot, get a rope that is about 150 feet long and lay it in a circle so the two ends meet. Then take a tiny grain of sand and place it anywhere within that circle. Next, have someone spin you around to disorient you. Then take another tiny grain of sand and drop it from a height of about a foot. Your odds of striking the first grain of sand with the second are about equal to winning when the odds are 1 in 200 million.

Two people may have hit those grains of sand this week, but millions more got nothing. And yet millions will continue to pay more for that one hope.

A lottery ticket or a donation to help a blind man keep his dog — which offers the better payoff?

There are other contrasts out there worth examining. On one side are the many reports of violence associated with Black Friday deals, which were available on Thanksgiving Day this year in many parts of the country. One person was shot in the leg over a television. Police had to evacuate a Walmart. A woman spit on a child in a fight over baby clothes.

On the other side are layaway angels who anonymously retire the debts of strangers at retail stores.

As the recent lottery frenzy neared its climax, I heard a woman tell a radio interviewer that if she won she would give to charity. While this is a noble thought, it is important to remember that the Prince of Peace, whose birth will be celebrated this week, never possessed much in the way of money, and yet he was the most charitable of all. He offers a hope with eternal significance that is freely available to all who will embrace it. He cautioned us to treasure up things of lasting value.

Reuters published a photo showing a police officer hugging Williams, the blind man, who was sitting in a wheelchair, his left arm petting Orlando.

"The spirit of giving, Christmas and all that there – it exists here, and it’s in New York," I heard him say to ABC radio.

The contrasts seem so stark. Why, this time of year, can’t more people see it? 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Search this site


    Like what you read here?

      Please subscribe below, and we'll let you know when there is a new opinion.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture

    The author

    Jay Evensen is the Opinion Editor of the Deseret News. He has more than 40 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct journalism professor at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Categories

    All
    Campaign 2012
    Congress
    Crime
    Culture
    Iran
    Oil And Gas
    Poverty
    Steroids
    Taxes
    Utah
    Washington
    World Events
    World Events

    Links

    Deseret News
    Newslink
    Marianne Evensen's blog

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from jamesjoel, DOWN ESPAÑA, garethjmsaunders, University of Salford, Adam Jones, Ph.D. - Global Photo Archive, marcoverch, See-ming Lee 李思明 SML, edgarzunigajr, Theo K, ActuaLitté, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Backbone Campaign, OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology), bradleygee, @sage_solar, sianiweston, makelessnoise, COD Newsroom, philozopher, Congressman George Miller, Jordi Bernabeu, edgarzunigajr, National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru, simpleinsomnia, Mike Bonitz, Becker1999, manhhai, BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives, amira_a, Ken Lund, Bread for the World, r.nial.bradshaw, DearEdward, sinisterbluebox, denebola2025, thedoc31, ** RCB **, IQRemix, sandiegoduiattorney, Rob.Bertholf, Seluryar, Ben Sutherland, O.S. Fisher, Tony Webster, www.rubenholthuijsen.nl, Zachi Evenor, jonnwilliams, Lion Multimedia Production U.S.A., penjelly, jillccarlson, ADAM TAS IMAGES, UNMEER, DonkeyHotey, USDAgov, The Prime Minister's Office, Maicon Garcia, CountyLemonade, familymwr, Muffet, DonkeyHotey, tedeytan, KristineL761, penjelly, Leap Kye, sully213, NLNY, frankieleon, haven't the slightest, ljlandre, jalbertbowdenii, Rvs1966, Marion Doss, Vassilis Online, Dan Bock, Prestonbot, Frontierofficial, L. Bartha, educators.co.uk, Kelly Hunter, lindsayloveshermac, Michael.Jolley, dw_ross, Janitors, KAZVorpal, combusean, wuestenigel, apardavila, BodyWorn, MDGovpics, MHS Touchdown Club, JeepersMedia, Elvert Barnes, fred_v, CountyLemonade, mitchell haindfield, qbac07, David Holt London, Hoshi_sae, DonkeyHotey, aaronrhawkins, Ruth and Dave, CountyLemonade, Akademija Oxford, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, Chimpanz APe, huskyte77, GotCredit, sandiegoduiattorney, pacificpelican, streetsensedc, ell brown, Aaron Volkening, rgserapio, Asian Development Bank, paularps, ThoseGuys119, USDAgov, SIM USA, gnrklk, kthypryn, Zeitfixierer, vwcampin, regan76, frankieleon, Robert Couse-Baker, JoeInSouthernCA, SounderBruce, ThoseGuys119, CDC Global Health, Gage Skidmore, bunnicula, Fire At Will [Photography], Alexandre Prévot, Anth0ny Gale, vastateparksstaff, raphael.chekroun, Gerry Dincher, halseike, Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view, Gage Skidmore, infomatique, omarsalvatierragracida, Jerk Alert Productions, DonkeyHotey, Österreichisches Außenministerium, Photocapy, USDAgov, Taymaz Valley, jencu, Peter Krantz, WayShare, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, gruntzooki, CountyLemonade, makelessnoise, Denise Cross Photography, Roadgeek Adam, Tony Webster, amy.gizienski, faungg's photo, makelessnoise, FolsomNatural, Loimere, free pictures of money, Exile on Ontario St, EvinDC, ell brown, kamirao, coachphatty, Keith Allison, Raido Kaldma, avrene, Shutterbug Fotos, Elvert Barnes, Andrew Feinberg, Tony Webster, danxoneil, GrandGeneralStormCommando, MShades, Joe Frazier Photo, Kurdishstruggle, Omranic, SounderBruce, Mike Morbeck, Got Credit, Scudamore's Punting Company, wuestenigel, r.nial.bradshaw, NIAID, torbakhopper, 81disasters, gaobo, John Haro, Metro Atlanta Transit Productions, foundin_a_attic, Sten Dueland, tedeytan, CarbonNYC [in SF!], Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, marcn, pburka, BBurchell Photography, wbaiv, heyexit, Phillie Casablanca, Neil T, LendingMemo, Elsie esq., Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, n4rwhals, WalterPro4755, railsr4me, JLaw45, Janitors, USDAgov, MarkDoliner, educators.co.uk, wuestenigel, Franco Folini, JeanneMenjoulet&Cie, WayShare, Gamma Man, ninara, Bob Linsdell, H.KoPP, Vegar S Hansen Photography, denebola2025, Aircaft @ Gloucestershire Airport By James, Talusss, LaBellaVida, wwarby, easysentri, evelynquek, Ken Lund, rdmsf, North Charleston, t--h--s, denisbin, stcyshn, Tim Evanson, KAZVorpal, jurvetson, Simon_sees, thisisbossi, Photographing Travis, Phil Roeder, rich701, BPPrice, Kadano, quinnums, MoneyBlogNewz, wickenden, Lost Albatross, Bernd Thaller, Dave Snowden, CountyLemonade, au_ears, annikaleigh, magerleagues, MICOLO J Thanx 4 725k+ views, DonkeyHotey, progre, frankieleon, quinn.anya, Ryan Hallock, jsnsndr, abominable_eagle, Alan Cleaver, aflcio, CDC Global Health, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, jellygator, Jason M Parrish, USDAgov, Mystery in the mail, CJS*64 "Man with a camera", BenDibble, Joybot, JoeInSouthernCA, Pawel Maryanov, kennethkonica, mitchell haindfield, USDAgov, stevebott, Tyler Merbler, NCDOTcommunications, Exile on Ontario St, CBP Photography, jboe2009, WWYD?, liveoncelivewild, vaxomatic, Hunky Punk, tedeytan, GotCredit, Find Your Feet, Fibonacci Blue, Nicholas_T, Sergey Galyonkin, shock264, Georgie Pauwels, EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, adifferentbrian, Seluryar, Riik@mctr, Andrew Moura, Michael.Jolley, kellybdc, inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), JeepersMedia, TheTruthAbout, Anton V. Larionov, HloomHloom, surreynews, {Guerrilla Futures | Jason Tester}, Secretary of Defense, The All-Nite Images, FootMassagez, You're In My Light (jerrysEYES), BLMOregon, Achilli Family | Journeys, Gerry Dincher, Ken Lund, Triple-green, yourbestdigs, Richard Elzey, Prestonbot, automobileitalia, Fora do Eixo, mary_gaston22, bk2000, AutrementDit Toronto., Elvert Barnes, dualdflipflop, mikemacmarketing, Hoshi_sae, torbakhopper, eburniche3, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Abeeeer, Rob.Bertholf, Don Hankins, dannielleblumenthal-thinkbrandfirst, USDAgov, wuestenigel, Michael.Jolley, xiquinhosilva, Images_of_Money, OregonDOT, [email protected], gregfriese, SounderBruce, Kevin Johnston, Imagens Evangélicas, loop_oh, Magic Robot, funktionhouse, Gage Skidmore, Yosuke WATANABE, Mark Scott Johnson, F43r1x, ljlphotography, dsearls, David Holt London, ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd., Images_of_Money, roberthuffstutter, monkeyz_uncle, zemistor, fred_v, DonkeyHotey, Obama-Biden Transition Project, CedarBendDrive, nestor galina, brianholsclaw, ryochiji, thisisbossi, Bright Meadow, richard winchell, Svadilfari, Edward M Johnson, NavaInstigator>>>, VarsityLife, ourbethlehem, Mr. T in DC, mwanasimba, Franco Folini, qnr, Dougtone, LightinkLibrarian, Obama-Biden Transition Project, The Official CTBTO Photostream, AstroSamantha, MoreSatisfyingPhotos.com, The Shopping Sherpa, The National Guard, craigdietrich, kamshots, ewan traveler, World Can't Wait, Gila Forest, kaffeeringe, jgurbisz, gruntzooki, Supermac1961, thievingjoker, Rod Waddington, PlayfulLibrarian, Philip Taylor PT, AlicePopkorn, Raido Kaldma, dan taylor, Cannabis Culture, surreynews, cliff1066™, Lars Plougmann, ANZ Cluster Munition Coalition, Tracy O, www.davidbaxendale.com, Rob Barrett Photography, BuzzFarmers, Political Graveyard, ojbyrne, US Mission Geneva, inkknife_2000, ubiquit23, Dan Bock, irrezolut, Frankie Roberto, Abode of Chaos, KOMUnews, John Pavelka, ElectronicFrontierFoundation, DonkeyHotey, carlos.a.martinez, pnoeric, ARTS, ubiquit23, Ken Lund, Tony Fischer Photography, brewbooks, || UggBoy♥UggGirl || PHOTO || WORLD || TRAVEL ||, blackplastic, cristee12, Shan213, OPEN Sports, Korean Resource Center 민족학교, cocoate.com, karola riegler photography, 4nitsirk, gnuckx, citizenactionny, rezsox, Jeffrey Beall, david_shane, Mrs. Gemstone, Erik Daniel Drost, stockicide, kadluba, joaquinuy, quinn.anya, ReneS, StockMonkeys.com, loop_oh, Steve Tolcher, Iqbal Osman1, kiwanja, rawmustard, Anthony J, El Bibliomata, International Information Program (IIP), Alex McClung, danielmoyle, "G" jewels g is for grandma, slgckgc, Images_of_Money, fivedollarones, x1klima, Gabriel GM, redjar, andertoons, gvgoebel, .Larry Page, Mr. T in DC, chintanamin, KatVitulano Photos, Ken Lund, adactio, shroncin, RobotSkirts, jeffschuler, VinothChandar, Joybot, neurollero, erasergirl, Matías Garabedian, viviandnguyen_, Digitale Gesellschaft, markhillary, mkphotonet, jgBeachcomber, jimbowen0306, Franco Folini, dno1967b, jurvetson, MargaretNapier, Elvert Barnes, muddum27, [email protected], Frontierofficial, dsearls, Shamanic Shift, Andrew Feinberg, Prayitno/ more than 2 millions views: thank you!, playerx, FSonne-pennstate73, The Daring Librarian, Vicky Hugheston, thenestor, Dusan Simonovic, David Reber's Hammer Photography, Justin A. Wilcox, Hollywood_PR, AR McLin, BrownGuacamole, Gage Skidmore, zache, Medill DC, wheat_in_your_hair, patricialow, Matt McGee, Bill Stanley, jerekeys, cletch, 6SN7, killrbeez, شبكة برق | B.R.Q, colros, Eric Kilby, kenteegardin, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Erik Daniel Drost, Edward Dalmulder, chris friese, simone.brunozzi, Daquella manera, stevebott, stevendepolo, DFID - UK Department for International Development, justinmatthew21, a.drian, cudmore, Extra Ketchup, wbaiv, Loren Javier, swanksalot, CountyLemonade, indigoprime, Bryn Pinzgauer, Paul Robertson, Gruenemann, r.nial.bradshaw, Sam Beebe, Ecotrust, Fibonacci Blue, .jocelyn., RESchroeder, MoneyBlogNewz, matze_ott, swskeptic, peterolthof, Charleston's TheDigitel, Tony Webster, Themeplus, sDanOoO, CountyLemonade, Our Dream Photography (Personal), anitakhart, Waiting For The Word, Matt-Zimmerman, Dougtone