I Got Nothin!

There are days, when the world gets in your face and refuses to budge. All the positive things that you could possibly think to say are lost in the swirl of news, events and routines.

So many of us are more than willing to put in our two cents worth on any idea, comment or theory but few of us are able to sit back and allow a still quiet voice speak to us over the din of conversations.

Angry mobs are not just on the evening news, they are present in comments of blogs, news stories and organizations. Many of us continue to "buy" into the ending of the world, instead of changing the way we think in terms of our fellow man.

What if you were challenged to describe the present situation in today's news without mentioning names, political parties or members of the media? Or if you listened to several speeches without introduction as to the identity to of the speaker?

What if you were to read an article without a clue as to who had written it? Lets pretend that we are as blind as Lady Justice and listen to all of the arguments without the interference of sight or prior prejudice?

Right now, we are all milling around like angry bees in a beehive that that has been disturbed. We want to look for the culprit and hordes of us will fly in the direction that we think he has escaped. There is no purpose in this anger, only chaos.

We can reasonably state the obvious state of affairs, but the disagreement is where the blame lies or how we came to this sorry situation in the first place.

First: As humans, we tend to think a little too much of ourselves and our intelligence or be in awe of someone who seems to be more educated than we are. And then we begin to believe that we are better than God.

2nd: In the age of the internet, millions of facts and quotes are at our disposal almost instantaneously. And some of us use Google almost faithfully every day. But those facts are only as good as the people who have imputed them.

If you were to witness a traffic accident with 10 other people, there would be 11 versions as to what happened, the makes of car involved and who was at fault. Our tendency is to assume that everyone else has had the same experience and memory as you do.

3rd. Our lives have ceased to be dictated by doing the right thing, but doing what feels right to you. There is a big difference between the two.

4th: We have choices for how we respond to angry words, contempt or ridicule. Turning the other cheek is more than just a physical action. It is a conscious choice to take the higher road no matter how much you are provoked.

Life is not meant to be measured by blame or accusations. It is supposed to be filled with anticipation, wonder and love. And as a culture, we want that for everyone.

I believe that the reason for this is the instant gratification that we have been blessed and cursed with. We cannot have it all. We are not guaranteed a perfect life, nor should we expect a government to provide it for us.

When you have a barrel of apples and just one of them is rotten, it doesn't seem so bad. And so you let it remain, contending that you have the rest of the bushel to enjoy and consume. However, the entire bottom layer becomes rotten and the fruit flies are beginning to emerge.

By now, you are trying to get the rotten apples out, but by doing so, you have to put several of the goods ones aside too. Eventually, the rotten apples are gone, or so you think. But they have already contaminated the good apples in less obvious ways.

So lets think about a few things; Scientists do not agree about their each others theories; Doctors change their policies concerning health every 5 years or so, Biblical Scholars have not been able to agree on history or core beliefs for centuries.

The sky is falling. Global warming or political parties is not the cause of this, but people who make selfish choices every day. There are children who have no fathers, women who are abused and men who abuse their power. We have corporations and unions who no longer have a moral compass concerning their customer base or workers. We have "career" politicians who have lost their way in the muddy pond called Washington.

We see a land of excess and waste instead of a country that is United in Heart and Mind. We see our neighbors naked and ashamed. The price of living has inflated beyond the realm of goodness and mercy. Instead, it is pleasure that we seek instead of humility.

So when I said that I got Nothin! I meant that my fingers were not typing the words that I thought would be relevant. Life is meant to be spent honoring God and respecting each other. It is a much easier way to live.

Our code should be Joy. And most of you who believe in a Higher Power will recognize the order in which our life choices should be made.

If your life is in tatters, it is not the government's fault, your congressman or even your minister. It lies squarely on the person looking back at you in the mirror.

We cannot continue to lump everyone together and throw the mud indiscriminately. Instead, we must shake our neighbor's hand and find common ground. We must TREAT EACH OTHER with respect and love. And we must recognize that we cannot run on our own strength.

The true challenge is to recognize that we are nothing if our lives are empty or filled with anger and despair. Our words can be uplifting and insightful or derogatory. How we choose to make another person feel is a measure of our own compassion and empathy.

Throughout history, there have been great individuals who have inspired greatness. Do we inspire or do we condemn? As I write these blogs, I am more aware than ever the importance of intent, purpose and the proper use of words.

Three simple things have been impressed upon me. Respect, honor and love. When we lack these qualities, we are contributing to the chaos.

You must be vigilant in keeping the flower beds weed free and the trash from obstructing your view of the setting sun. Choose today where you want to be in the landscape of life. I know that I want to be as beautiful as a flower and and breathtaking as the sun setting in the horizon