It’s your decision…
Each and every day, we choose:
- Optimism, which infers actively working to bring about something better or…
Pessimism, perhaps even hoping for the worst, as Rush did when Obama was elected. - To respond to others with…
Cynicism and scorn designed, even if only subconsciously, to deflate, belittle and discourage, or…
Encouragement and support, understanding that all of us have grasped a helping hand when it was sorely needed. - Judgment and exclusion, based upon gender or race or sexuality or social status or ‘other-ness’, or…
Openness and inclusion, knowing that of the 7 billion people on this earth, not one is exactly like us, which is almost certainly a good thing. - To pretend our lives are so over-scheduled, and we are so over-worked that we have no time for real communion with our spouse or our children or our aging parents or our greater community, or…
To put down our smart phone, sign off of Facebook, turn off our big screen TV, get off our couch, and devote one hour a week to volunteering in a local food bank or homeless shelter, anyone with less than we have. - To believe the worst about most of those not doing as well as we are, or…
The best, understanding that circumstance is fickle and real pain is rarely put on full display. - Resentment and hostility about what we’ve lost, eager to blame and impugn as explanation if not excuse, or… Gratitude and humility, not waiting for those we know are hurting and in need to ask but helping proactively, by providing — cash, food, a sympathetic ear, our time — as we are able.
- To spread Fear, anxiety and doubt or…
Confidence and hope. - To work hard at becoming better, in our jobs and our relationships, or…
To use innuendo and gossip to pull others down, afraid they may be getting ‘ahead’ of us, somehow, finding more satisfaction in their failure than in our own grinding effort at self-improvement. - To be who we too often are — insecure, selfish, petty, envious, defeatist — or…
who we can be — flawed and humble, generous and sensitive, grateful for grace and redemption unearned yet clearly evident almost every day of our lives if we but look for it.
The choice to try to be better, to be more, is ours, every day.
Never, ever underestimate the effect your choice has on other lives that God skids into your path along the way, for your stage is elevated and your voice carries farther than you know.