A rainy Sunday morning

and my old shortstop James Roberts is out taking a walk, perhaps you might recognize him if he passes by your way, or wanders through your town?

Listen to the Church bells as he walks past, and ask yourself a question about humanity?

It was not that many years ago that James would show up with the rest of our team on a similar Sunday morning to play a double header of softball as a means of recreation. Steady in his fielding habits and good enough at the plate to hit in the teams top third of the batting lineup, James Roberts was always a disciplined team player and an asset on the many teams we played on together.

Unlike some of us, James was never tossed out of a game for arguing an umpire's call, or loosing his temper on the field. James is in his early to mid fifties now, has a rather gnarly beard and is often in need of soap and water, and a clean change of clothing.

He stares off into the sky a lot these days, and sometimes appears to have conversations with other humans just out of the reach of our eyes. Six foot one in height, of medium build, possessing great strength in his hands from many years of hard labor while driving trucks loaded with steel from the Cleveland to the small Pennsylvania town he grew up in near the Ohio border and back again.

Jim smokes a lot of cigarettes, does not sleep very often, and the price of bus fare versus a meal is often a major conundrum in his life. You see a few years ago, James was working one day, driving his truck on a delivery to a local metal concern, and had an epiphany of sorts that changed his life in a moment.

James had a vision of an evil presence hovering in the smoke rising above this metal plant, and in a moments time and space, abandoned his eighteen wheel truck and walked away from his truck and reality as we know it in one fell swoop.

I never doubted his sincerity concerning this matter, and having in my possession hopefully an open enough mind towards alternative realities, do not doubt his demons are real and terrifying to his psyche. James has an ex-wife, a daughter, and a grand daughter who live in town along the bus lines that he travels day and night, you might recognize him staring out the bus window into the pale light of dawn looking for a glimpse of his earthbound family.

James eats at the same skid row beanery daily, consuming mostly coffee and chili dogs, running a tab when his monthly Government SSI checks run out early. He is a proud man, and his character does not include panhandling, nor does he drink alcohol or take any drugs other than tobacco.

Therein lies James major problem.

No medication.

Many forms of mental illness can be treated with modern medications, though many of those who should be taking their meds are often under the impression that they do not need them.

The current political climate of the United States of America does not provide much for James and the thousands of other souls like him, save a monthly check and an occasional set of paperwork forms to puzzle out on their own.

We have a president in the white house who vetoes health care for children due to its potential cost, so looking for any help amid the political types for mentally ill American citizens in crisis seems slim at the moment. James is not alone or unique in America today, look around your town, homeless men and women abound, most of them have some form of mental illness, and it would behoove all of us to treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

The wet seasons of autumn and winter are upon us. Many wet human beings like James do not enjoy the luxuries afforded our house pets to warm themselves in front of a heating vent or curl up in a chair. I do not posses the answers to this major question of how to help those ill in need in America today?

James is my friend so I am there for him as best I can. I listen to him, treat him with dignity he deserves and try to help him with his basic needs.

James earned my respect years ago, with his pleasant small town humor ever present in our many games of baseball or softball that we played as teammates. Tossing the baseball around in a rhythm as regular as rain.

Then one day something shifted. "Life comes at you quick", as the television jingle states.

Keep your eyes open as you walk around out in life, perhaps you will be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of someone you know and care for who could use a lift upward.

James Roberts is a father, and I think of my own Father who coached sports and taught school most of his life, and attempt to act in a fashion that would please his soul.

Bookselling time.

Abraham Maslow is best known for his "hierarchy of human needs”, which state our common shared needs to be" food, love, and shelter'.

We offer today Maslow's 1964 book RELIGIONS, VALUES, AND PEAK - EXPERIENCES as a window into this humanist view of life here on Earth.

It appears to me that we will not move forward as a social unit until we can collectively care for all of Earth's citizenry, providing Maslow's basic needs from cradle to grave for all of involved in the daily task of living.

Every last human being on Earth deserves these basic needs, and it is about time to rearrange our priorities and begin to work towards providing them equal to one and all.

Everyday is Father's day; I give thanks to all Patriarchs, especially my own Father who died over thirty years ago.

Best to my Mother who has lived without his company for these thirty years, and all of our Fathers and Mothers, Kim and John for all their help and support.

Practice a random act of kindness today, it will make a difference.

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