Have you noticed that everyone seems to be angry these days? And those who are not angry are fearful and concerned about what will come next.
I don't know what the answer is to solving racial, financial, or educational disparity, or why some people assimilate to be successful and others don't. Like a firestorm that gains ground and destroys everything in in path, the solutions could be worse than the problems and only time will reveal if the changes have been beneficial or total disasters.
I would like to see more people be successful, have jobs they enjoy, and become the best they can be. I honestly believe the outpouring of support from the community is a desire to help make changes for a better tomorrow. Change is hard for everyone and not all change is positive. Just look at how we are treating each other.
I want to encourage you to release the anger and fear that has become the prevailing emotions of 2020. At first, we all were afraid of the CoronaVirus. We ran and sheltered in place. As months passed, we became angry at the delay to return to "normal" and were told this is our "new normal." Just as people were getting more and more defiant against the government restrictions, an injustice was done, anarchy broke out and rioting and looting became a daily routine. Shame has become the means of expressing our thoughts and the veil of the First Amendment now means we can all be angry, disrespectful, and even abusive toward others. We can falsely accuse complete strangers of malicious intent with such vial disdain and feel fully justified for our actions. We have given our feelings control and logic and love have become a thing of the past.
How did we come so far in such a short time and where has civility gone? As a nation we are being torn apart and the gap is widening as politicians, the news, media commentary, and even our entertainment becomes more and more decisive. We are heading toward destruction fanned by hate and if we don't put the breaks on we will certainly be destroyed. Will 2020 be the pivotal year in history that our grandchildren will look upon as the year of fear and hate? It's mid-June and the first six months of the year certainly have reflected these emotions. Will we continue this insanity for the next six months, the next year, beyond?
The amplified Bible gives us a reminder of one foundational action step we can take toward mending what is broken;
"Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar]
words ever come out of your mouth,
but only such speech as is good for building up others,
according to the need and the occasion,
so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]."
EPHESIANS 4:29
One person at a time, making an effort to be kind, can start a firestorm of healing. We only need to gain momentum to turn the tides of hate. As one of my therapists often says, "Be the change you want to see."