I noticed back in college that when we studied human anatomy, there were no descriptions for the “chi,” the conscience, the soul or the cockles of one’s heart. There was a time when I thought the cockles might be right near the left ventricle, but later I discovered that was a collection of cholesterol.

And then comes the “chi” This is described by some as one’s “center.” It is not synonymous with the belly button. Nosiree, I learned that it is rather mystical and is supposed to be powerful. The really nice thing is that you don’t have to clean lint out of your “chi.”

Martial arts people believe in their “chi.” The way I understand it, they have to find their “chi” before they can go around breaking boards with their heads. I’ve never discovered my “chi,” but I have discovered Husqvarna, Poulan and Black and Decker.

The soul of course is a Biblical interpretation. It is described as all that is left after your 401K and retirement packages have been sucked dry by greed and poor management. Ooops, wrong analogy. But maybe close.

Now comes conscience. In anatomy class, no conscience has ever been removed from a human cadaver and laid out on a stainless steel table along with a spleen and liver.

Unlike the “chi,” I don’t think the conscience is all that hard to find, even though you can’t put it in a jar of formaldehyde to pass around the classroom. All you can do is give examples. Cause and effect.

We routinely read about someone finding a lost wallet and returning it to the owner, cash intact. That has to do with good conscience and honesty.

This week some Texas boys found a gold class ring dating back to the Stephen F. Austin Teacher’s College, class of 1937. They returned it to a 95-year-old Lufkin man who lost it back in the 1980s. These boys were trying out their new metal detector when they found the ring. The boys, brothers who are 12 and 8 years old, at first thought of selling it, but their conscience dictated they try to find the owner.

Well God bless them. Write their names down and keep them in mind for the U.S. Senate.

Also in Texas, a contractor was clearing debris from Hurricane Ike when he uncovered a treasure chest of sorts. It contained some Confederate money, war medals, diamond earrings, family memorabilia including photographs and a drivers’ license, silver certificates, an Art Donovan football card and much other stuff.

The jewelry could easily have been converted to cash, but the finder has launched an effort to locate the rightful owner.

I fully realize that these are just small pieces of evidence that show hope for the human condition at a time when Wall Street crooks have walked away with billions of hard-earned dollars. But it helps me believe that in the big picture, we are not headed for hell in a handbasket. I believe there are a lot of good people out there in everyday walks of life who are key to restoring our faith in mankind. And realizing this warms the cockles of my heart, blesses my soul and I think that tingling I’m feeling just above my belt buckle might be my “chi.” Either that, or that sausage I had for breakfast was too spicy.

(Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer, 985-454. E-mail: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)