We’re all sick of the pandemic. Tired of the division. Devastated by all the noise. But something more is going on. We lost what once made us great. Seriously… what happened to us? What’s changed? We didn’t always use to be so suspicious of our neighbors, let alone our own friends and relatives. Sure, our world has seen some dark days - darker than what we are living through today. But it’s hard for us to remember this, while at the same time, attempting to navigate our daily lives. So, we just succumb to the chaos. We let it dictate our lives. But why? Again… what’s changed? I have some theories and the main one is the secularization of our society. But I know there are a lot of non-believers out there, so I will refrain from diving too deeply into that one. That said, I don’t feel like I can continue without at least saying, that we all need to get back to church. We need to get back to praying with each other, and especially, with our own families. Whatever that looks like for you. We need it now more than ever.
We also need to remember that we never fully lose control of our own world. No matter how upside down it seems at times. And by taking back the helm in that aspect of our lives, we can be there more fully for the loved ones in our lives. But the beauty of this is that it does not end there. Our kindness and respect for the dignity of everyone will show in each encounter we have with even the people we don’t know. By making their day better, you are setting them up for doing the same with whomever they encounter afterward.
We don’t need someone, or something else for that matter, to tell us how to do this. In fact, that would make it disingenuous. This respect for the dignity of everyone we encounter is built into us and can spread organically. It just seems we’ve just lost our grasp of it lately. Especially as we’re being taught that everyone we see is a walking virus.
We will always have our problems. There will always be evil. But that does not mean that good needs to disappear. We simply need to shine light upon the darkness. Saint Pope John Paul II said it perfectly: "Darkness can only be scattered by light. Hatred can only be conquered by love." He didn’t say anything about needing some public or private entity to accomplish this. That just doesn’t work. We have to trust the inherent goodness in the people we meet every day. Of course there are bad ones, and of course we should remain on guard, but that doesn’t mean we can’t once again give people the benefit of the doubt.
I’m old enough to remember a time when this was the norm. So love one another. Love yourself. And if you’re having trouble with the latter, start by counting your blessings.
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