Dreamcatcher

Ah, to be reading Stephen King again! After a several month hiatus from King, I jumped into his 2001 release, “Dreamcatcher” late last night. As always, within the first dozen pages, I was hooked!

One scene early on struck me as something to share with Engel’s Ensights readers. Jonesey, a college professor, has recently been hit by a car while he crossed the street. He suffered some life-changing injuries, but continues on without much self pity. The driver, an elderly man in the initial stages of Alzheimer’s, is to be pitied more than punished. As Jonesey thinks back on the event and where he is now, it struck me how his views mirror my own. Here are the thoughts of the fictional character, Professor Jones:

So often, Jonesey thought, there was no one to blame when the dust cleared. And, even if there was, what good would it do? You still had to live with what was leftand console yourself with the factthat, as people told him every day(until they forgot the whole thing, that was) , it could have been worse. And it could have been!

Yes, it can always be worse-you’re oh so right, Mr. King and Professor Jones. But more importantly, you’re so right about blame-what good DOES it do? Blame doesn’t take away pain and suffering. Blame doesn’t change anything, other than how a person is able to move on.

As Jonesey does, we should all learn to accept the aspects we have no control over. No, it’s not easy-and it’s likely harder since we’re not