By Ruth Polata

Right now, Christians are in the 40-day period of Lent when we remember the last days of Jesus’ life, the days when he knew that his words and actions would lead to his certain death. It’s a time for introspection about our own words and actions. This year, my thoughts have been sparked by the juxtaposition of two contrasting obituaries in the San Jose Mercury News, Feb 25.

One was of 84-year-old Paul C. Marcinkus, “Prominent American archbishop and longtime head of the Vatican Bank, who was linked to a major Italian banking scandal in the 1980s … The stuff of international thrillers, the scandal would ultimately involve Machiavellian intrigue, mysterious death and the loss of more than $1 billion.”

The other obituary was of 33-year-old Tami (Tamara) Olvera, mother of two children and coffee shop owner. “Since she took over eight years ago, the popular gathering place became a hub for cops and firefighters, schoolteachers and business folks, stay-at-home moms and the community at large,” according to the paper.

The article continued with stories of how the community mobilized to raise money for Olvera’s medical expenses. Los Gatos police officers paid for the family’s 10-day stay in Maui; others helped out with housecleaning and babysitting; on days when her husband stayed home to care for Tami, volunteers filled in at the store.

A close friend said, “Tami saw the good in everyone.”

As I think about the lives of these two people I had never met, I’m challenged to look at my own life’s journey. What actions have I taken that have harmed another person? What about my inaction in face of another’s need?

Even if all my actions were blameless, far more important is how do I look at and treat other people? I see lots of room there for improvement.

So, for this year, I’ve chosen Tami Olvera’s smiling face, shown with her obituary, to be my reminder of what we all need most - someone who sees the good in us.

Polata is a longtime member of Foothills Congregational Church in Los Altos.