Just thought you ought to know.

A man died in Wichita.

Just thought you should know.

Not much as been said about him. No public broadcast, nothing to even indicate that he won't be around anymore. I wish there would have been more said--more than his name, Randall "Randy" Taylor, more than his age, 47, more than "in a van".

I think that is sad. Why?

I dunno, but I believe it has something to do with the fact that he was found in a van, where neighbors said it was not uncommon for him to stay when he had nowhere else to go.

A van...

Temperatures are below 16 degrees, and he's dying in van.

You would think people would be concerned, be curious as to who he was, what he did, why he was alone...but nobody cared.

A life was here, and now it's gone. Did anybody notice that?

The coroner determined he died from "natural causes and exposure"....geez, ya think so? So the cold DID at least contribute to that, but we don't like to think about that. As if it matters.

Did I tell you this man was outside in a van?

Oh, I did?

Hehe, that seems a little funny to me that he was outside in a van when it was so cold that people brought their dogs inside. But, obviously nobody cared to bring a human inside.

Once upon a time, a death like this would have brought shame and humility to us.

Not anymore.

The cold weather has been sharp and bitter, but you know what?

Our hearts are much colder than the weather when we allow tragedies as this one to occur.

A man froze to death in a van here.

Just thought you ought to know.

~Peace