Whenever I start my sentence with, “I’ve been thinking…”, my friends and family can’t escape fast enough. My gym buddies suddenly claim to have pulled a muscle, and my husband rushes to take out the trash. One thing they all know is that I won’t be deterred from sharing what’s on my mind. Sometimes (actually, quite often), I find myself in trouble and regret overthinking things that I can do little about. However, I also recognize that sometimes God uses people with big mouths and active minds for a purpose.
A few weeks ago, I traveled back to the place where I was born. While visiting my family’s graves, I took a moment to talk to them. As I stood there, I found myself reflecting. I imagined my dad turning over in his grave and my brother shouting, “God, please keep her brain quiet!” But what I really wanted to say to those around me was, “Why didn’t I ask you more questions when I had the chance?” Why do we all regret not exploring the lives of those who loved us the most?
I recently wrote a story about civility in American culture. It was essentially an op-ed advocating for national unity and encouraging people to set aside partisan divisions for the greater good. The story was inspired by my own experiences and observations, and I hoped it would resonate with others.
However, I received numerous comments, and I found that many people were arguing rudely with each other about which political party was the best or worst. This led me to think: why do we take something intended to promote unity and instead turn it into divisive, hateful political rhetoric? I suppose it only proves the point that “we only hear what we want to hear.”
I’ve been reflecting on something important: Why is it acceptable to post such egregious and horrific comments on social media when most people would never say those things to a friend in person? I suppose they forget that God observes their words and that there is always accountability for what we say. Right?
Why do we tend to accept hatred more than love? I believe it’s because hostility is often easier to embrace. It doesn’t require much effort. One can take all the negativity in one’s life and pile it up into a fire of resentment and anger, then unleash it like those fire-breathing dragons from old tales. On the other hand, love is time-consuming and demands humility. It requires us to often ‘eat crow’ and say, ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘I really do love you.’ These expressions take courage and ultimately make the world a better place. So, I’ve been thinking that maybe we should slay the dragons of hatred and let the crows take flight.
I’ve been thinking about parking lots. Have you ever noticed a car pulling into a handicap spot, only to see the driver get out and run into the store using their well-developed leg muscles? Or what about the empty grocery cart left in the only available parking space? I think parking lots often reveal extreme selfishness and a lack of decency. Take your kids to the closest Kroger parking lot and teach them the importance of good character.
How many of us who are aging have finally discovered what is truly important in life? I’ve been thinking, it wasn’t the success we achieved, even though that helped provide for our children. It wasn’t the accolades, the awards, or winning the big game. The greatest success comes from reaching the end of our journey and realizing that everything was meant to lead us up a long staircase.
Every step we take, no matter how difficult or how many times we stumble, success comes from our determination to keep climbing. It is the will to keep pondering, giving, and discovering who we are, as well as reflecting on whether we have fulfilled the purpose that God has given us. I’ve been thinking that perhaps we all need to continuously seek better ways to serve one another and the God who provided us with the stairs to climb.
Take the time to ask people questions when you have the chance. Let’s move away from expressing political hatred; it’s un-American. According to God, love is the only source that can extinguish hatred. Selfishness, whether in a parking lot or a living room, stems from a lack of character and understanding.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what we think; what truly matters is what God thinks about us.
