My friend, an engineer, was frugal throughout his career. Looking forward to an active retirement he invested his money wisely. As a result he owns a mountain top that is populated with unknown acres of virgin hardwoods. Timber of this quality is prized for use in luxury homes and yachts. This friend owns a building filled with duplicate hand and commercial power tools for working wood and metal. A hardware store inventory of nuts, bolts, screws and fasteners does not compare to his stock. He has investment accounts, retirement funds, savings plans and Social Security. My friend gained his material wealth through honest, hard work. His home is in the foothills with a breathtaking view of the valley and its small town miles below. His only neighbor’s home is not visible from his.

Besides isolation from his neighbor, my friend is completely cut off from the world. Within months of his retirement, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. The mind that once analyzed problems, reduced the solution to shop drawings, and then produced the product can no longer read, write, or converse. He survives though a devoted wife who comforts and attempts to easy his fears.

His wife requested that I visit my friend. Uneasy what the visit might be like, I reluctantly drove 700 miles to see him. As I had expected, he did not know me. After a couple hours I excused myself, got in my truck and drove for hours through the mountains into the night attempting to escape the reality of this disease. I have witnessed Dementia but never Alzheimer’s.

Prayer is an important component of my daily life. Every morning I thank God for the many blessings He has given me and ask that I be a better steward of His precious gifts. Steering through the mountains, I wondered what it would be like to lose the ability to express gratitude- to lose my link to God. I prayed that God would show compassion for any of my friend’s shortcomings since he is not capable to ask himself. Surely, He will.