Last week I wished you a week of reflecting on your priorities for the rest of this holiday
season and for the priorities you set for yourself to guide you in your
thoughts and actions throughout this holiday. How are you doing? Have
you allowed time for yourself to truly enjoy being present and taking in each
moment? OR are you telling yourself the same thing you tell yourself every year…I’ll
do that next year.
There are times it’s very difficult to be positive when
there is so much divisiveness in our world. You can’t read a newspaper, turn on
the news, or turn on the radio when you aren’t hearing the anger and frustration
people are venting. I’m reading an article about “The Problem of Identity
Politics and Its Solution,” which is fascinating. In my opinion, we are more
divided along racial, ethnic, gender, and religious lines than at any other
time I can remember.
The colleges and universities, businesses etc. want us to be identified as
belonging to a specific group, the media breaks down the demographics in
specific groups, the entertainment world does the same. If we disagree with a
particular line of thinking, we’re called “racist” or “homophobic” or “misogynist”
etc. More labels. It’s not acceptable to have differing viewpoints.
Even during this holiday season, we are bombarded with what is and isn't acceptable. What? According to who?
I live in Boulder and
Boulder has always been known to others in Colorado as more “out there” and “doing
its own thing.” It’s often referred to as the “Republic of Boulder.” There’s
definitely some truth to that and like anything else there are the pluses and
minuses. Yet, I see the “group think” much more prevalent in this area than what
I remember when I moved here 42+ years ago.
Yet, then I go to Ulysses, Kansas or Okawville, Illinois
and I see the small, Midwest towns that continue to have the values I remember
growing up with in Iowa. Okawville has their yearly Wheat Festival with a
parade, carnival, and families young and old gather in the park. There are USA flags
waving, the police, fire and first responders are all part of the parade being
cheered as they drive down main street.
There are school programs, during the holidays, that sing
Christmas carols and have Christmas decorations on display. The national anthem
is played at all sporting events and people stand with their hand over their
hearts and caps are removed. Young children are taught to stop and pay
attention.
These are hard working families that depend on the land
for their livelihood. These are families; young and old, that aren’t spending
their days worried about what name should go on the bathroom doors. These are people
celebrating our country’s history and working to make life better for each person
no matter their race or religion. These communities don’t think twice that a
Nativity scene is on the front lawn of the Court House. There is a definite, true sense of community.
I say all this because I’m making it my own personal
mission, to stay in touch with the values I grew up with and the values I see
my children have passed on to my grandchildren. A key value is what God has
taught all of us which is “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Those values, for me, include saying Merry Christmas to the clerk checking me
out at the grocery store or the barista making my coffee. Those values also
include personal relationship time. That may be having coffee to catch up,
enjoying time with family and friends without cell phones ringing. It’s those
times playing games, putting together puzzles, making fudge or holiday goodies
together because it’s the conversations that happen doing those activities that
are so memorable.
It’s also my personal mission to pay attention to my
environment. I “hide” anything on my FB or Twitter pages that have any negative
political commentary and definitely there can be NO foul language. If I want a
political conversation I will talk with you one on one. There is a definite
difference in areas of our country and what people believe. That’s always been
the case, however, it’s much more apparent because of the media, entertainment
world, social media, and the identity politics. Instead of conversations, we seem to be far more into name calling, threats, and fear mongering.
I hope and pray that you will take a sincere and realistic
view of your life this past year. Each year we talk about doing things
differently. Each year we make new resolutions for a change in our health,
finances, relationships etc. I hope that also will include asking yourself if you're leading the life that God has created for you or are outside influences taking control of what you think and your actions? Have you been caught up in "group think" at work? in your social group? in your church group? in your politics?
“Change can be scary, but you know what is even scarier? It’s
allowing FEAR to stop you from GROWING, EVOLVING, and PROGRESSING.” It's the "group think" that has more control over you than knowing what is really The Best You.
It’s December 12th, 2017. There are 13 days
until Christmas and 19 days until New Year’s Eve. At that time another year has
passed by. My prayer for you, no matter your age, is that you will take stock in
what is important to you in ALL areas of your life, and you will make changes
where changes are needed. Life is way too short. I pray you do not have another
year of same old-same old because you “don’t have time.”
I pray for you to have gratitude in your heart and that you
rise above the negativity and hate which can be overwhelming. A great quote I
read recently said,
“Positive thinking is not expecting the best all the time
but accepting whatever happens is the best for the moment.”
I wish you a week of reflection, peace, and observation.
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