SHAKEN

I sit here in the early morning enjoying my coffee and looking out as the sun peaks over the tree tops. I watch Sarah as she enjoys running around the yard and exploring her kingdom. I sit in silence listening to my world wake up. Birds are talking to one another. The horn goes off at the plant down the street announcing it is time for the night shift to end. There is laughter as a neighbor walks her dog and gets tickled at how excited (Izzy, her dog) is over everything she encounters. I wave at John and Ardith, sitting out on their front porch and enjoying the early morning as well.

And then I go inside and turn on the T.V.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who cannot figure why this has to be so complicated.

So here goes the discussion of human nature ... we are broken, we are angry, we will do what we feel led to do. But we can be better than that. We were created to be better than that. 

We seem to have conveniently forgotten some important things:

          RESPECT 

for all, not just a select few

          KINDNESS 

far easier, far better than an attitude of hate

          EQUALITY 

No one, NO ONE has the right to say he or she is better than 

another person due to his/her skin color, status in society, monetary value

ALL LIVES MATTER

I don't care if you are black, blue, white, 

gray or green.

I don't care if you are straight, gay, transgender, eccentric

YOU have something to offer to society

And now these three remain: 
faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love. 
-- 1 Cor. 13.13

Jesus said the greatest of these is
LOVE

        LOVE

                LOVE

Everyday, everywhere, no matter the mood you're in (ouch ... I'm so guilty) -- we are to LOVE

Somewhere along the way in our stubborn minds we decided "it's all about me". 
Somewhere along the way we said "screw our neighbor - I'm looking out for me and my family"
Somewhere along the way we decided the actions of a few idiots is a reflection on who we all are.

I DON'T THINK SO

Yes, I'm a Christian and I try to live my life according to my faith. And in being all honest while I'm on this soapbox -- I really mess up sometime. I'm SO thankful God forgives, God calls me to return to Him and so I run and enter the presence of the Holy One.

I don't care whether you are a Christian or not. I wish you were. But God gave us free minds to use them. God gave us the opportunity to make our own choices in the direction of our lives.

So no matter what you believe -- no matter who you worship -- our writings teach us all that LOVE is the better way. Go ahead -- ask a true Muslim who lives a life of peace and commitment to his or her faith. You will be told the importance of love. Ask the Jewish Rabbi what they profess. You will hear an emphasis on LOVE. Ask the Greek Orthodox of their teachings and you will hear an emphasis on LOVE. Ask the New Ager and you will be told of the focus on love and harmony.

How I wish I could snap my fingers and release hate from the world. Sadly it is not that easy. I DO think, however, it would be a lot easier if we vowed to joining hands -- literally and figuratively. We could send an incredible message that 

• WE will no longer be afraid
• WE stand as one
• WE will fight back against the war of cruelty, racism, hatred, fear

Black and white, police officer and doctor, sanitation worker and priest, stay-at-home mom and teacher, NFL teams and bowling teams -- fill in the blank, EVERYONE has a place

For me THAT is an indication of GRACE reaching out -- welcoming, loving, making a place in the circle for ALL

Then and only then -- when we begin to look at each other through the eyes of love rather than the eyes of distrust -- then we will begin to make a change in our world. 

Enjoying the Journey,

Debra

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6