The meanness in the world

Sometimes things happen that just stop you in your tracks. Such an event occurred last Monday nite.

Jim is a man several years older than I, who, together with his wife, own a small country store.
They are both attractive people. Both are short, neither of them being over 5'1 in height. For many years, Paulette, the wife was a very trim lady who worked in the local jewelry store. She's always been a sharp tongued lady, and she's one of those people whom you aren't sure whether to like or dislike.

On the other hand, Jim is kind, soft spoken, easy to get along with and will do anything for you that he can.

I've known them both for many years. They have two grown daughters and several grandchildren. Paulette has gone through breast cancer, and because of the medication has gained a considerable amount of weight. It hasn't softened her demeaner any, though.

Jim has had several heart attacks, but in spite of the doctor's warnings, he continues to smoke and drink--often to excess. Yet, even in his excess of drinking, I've never heard of him being mean or violent.

Monday night he was attacked a short distance from his home. No one knows the details of why this happened, just the end results. His nose was broken, both jaw bones and his eye was nearly dislodged from it's socket. He is now home from the hospital and recuperating.

But the mystery still remains as to what happened.

In this small community, rumors are as numerous as flies around watermelon. Some say he stopped to help someone who appeared to be broken down, and the intent was robbery.
Some say he was out attempting to collect money owed pertaining to his business.
Yet others say he was fooling around with some woman he shouldn't have been fooling with--but regardless of the reason why he was attacked--it was an act of pure violence, a total disregard for the life of another human being.

If it were robbery, then many in our community stand to be next in line. With the economy suffering the way it is--who may be next? Acts of violence, such as this, are rare in our area; but from time to time they occur. Seemingly out of the blue, always extreme violence and always against a person well thought of in the community.

May God keep and protect all of us.