There is Beauty All Around

One thing we hear so often from the generations who are coming of age after us is how bad things used to be and how much better they are now and will be in the future. They are absolutely right! But not completely.

I believe every generation feels this way about those who came before. That’s how we progress as a species. That is why we no longer live in caves and drink from dirty streams. That’s why we have electricity, running water, and, blessedly, AIR CONDITIONING!

Having dabbled in genealogy over the past few decades, I have come across ancestors whose actions don’t exactly fill me with pride. I mean, there are definitely some slave owners and murderers (hey, some died in the Tower of London!) I wonder, just what will my great-great-great grandchildren think about me and how I lived my life? What values and beliefs do I have that they will consider selfish or small minded or even wrong? 

Here’s the real question:  Will they simply dismiss me and want to destroy all evidence I ever existed on this earth because something I believe now is considered bad in their time? I sure hope not. I mean, I hope I really am a good person and not simply because I try to be an honorable woman according to the dictates of my conscience and the social mores of our time. Even more important:  I am NOT the person I was 40 years ago. Thank goodness. That girl was so immature and self-centered and oblivious to what was going on around me in this world.

I feel very strongly that everything that came before us is important to remember. First, we don’t want to forget the things that we now consider wrong because how will OUR descendants remember that those things were bad? We don’t want to consign our ancestors to heck because of their missteps and even wrongdoing. Thankfully, that’s not our role. They all make up who we are as humans.

I just watched a fun video of a starlet from many years ago dancing. It was such fun to watch. The people were beautiful. The costumes were lovely. The dancing was fabulous. And I had a thought:  Right then in the world that was swirling around these dancers in that day there was a lot of social injustice. There were people who suffered from discrimination, hate, deprivation, and several other bad things. But these people had something beautiful to share with the world. I am so grateful that so many things have changed, but I can’t help but long for some of the things from those “good old days.” Imagine how it would be if we were to remove all the evil and hate and terrible things from the world and fill it with every good thing from every generation that ever lived on the earth. I feel a simple peace in my heart and even joy when I imagine that.

Please keep pushing for reform and growth in our society. It is painful, but we need that. We always will, if there are humans on this earth. But slow down. Recognize the worth of every soul, past, present, and future. Open yourself to being willing to see the spark in most people. Start by seeing it in yourself. It’s there. I promise. 

The other day I was struck by the thought that I TRULY need to love those who hate me and despitefully use me. They won’t care, nor will they likely know, but relieving myself of the anger allows more room for filling myself with the spark that I will then be more able to see in those around me. Concentrating on REALLY loving those folks at least helps me to appreciate the good things they contain within them.

It’s a good day. Go out and make it a better day for someone else.

Say, isn't that a Glass House?

 

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”  I know I have heard that somewhere :D

I am very glad to be surrounded by people who are flawed and who make stupid mistakes all the time.  I mean, can you imagine how I’d feel if no one else was messing up but me?  I am also very glad that the Lord has blessed me with a forgiving heart because I just don’t have the time or the energy to hold on to past grievances.  I have seen some mighty efforts in others to retain their sense of outrage and hysteria, and I am so over that.  I mean, c’mon, I’m not in middle school anymore!

Mind you, I definitely get mad or hurt on a regular basis, just like everyone else.  But the embrace of a friend or loved one who has stumbled in the past and caused you pain is probably the sweetest of embraces. The hand of forgiveness that is extended even to someone who has fallen short is the most appreciated.

I am also grateful (extremely!) for the blessing of health insurance and the opportunity to take myself and family members to the doctor for check-ups and the like.  I am now taking some medication to help me with some anxiety and emotional issues, and I can certainly feel the difference.  Darryl is, as well, and I keep thinking, “What if we had just had it with one another and had turned our backs on each other because of grievances real or imagined?”  We would be missing the sweet contentment we share.

So that leads me to the reminder that I am very grateful for the wonderful man I married just over 16 years ago.  I used to think that I could never be with anyone who wasn’t, well, perfect.  Guess what?  I’m relieved to be with someone who ISN’T perfect. 

Our life has taken some interesting curves in the past four months.  I would not want to relive any of the time before then.  And I’ve learned that, despite losing some of the aspects of our daily lives that we actually liked, we are not just humming along, we’re actually thriving.

We did have a very sad event the other day.  My sweet kitty Salem was snuggling up to Darryl Sunday morning, and then he went into the kitchen to get a drink from the water dish.  In other words, after a night of fighting me for pillow domination, he was acting perfectly normal.  And then when I went into the kitchen to let Sadie in, I realized he was just lying on the floor and not even flinching when Sadie stuck her nose in his face.  He had just dropped dead.  I’ll bet he was even more surprised than we were!

On the brighter side, Darryl was able to get to Washington yesterday, where he picked up Lindsay and her husband Jake and moved them here with us.  They are now occupying our guest room.  We’re eager to help them get on their feet and eventually be ready to start life on their own in their “own” place.

And that is exactly what I want from my life:  To be in a position to be able to help our kids who need an extra hand.  Heaven knows we have needed help from time to time, and we will never stop feeling gratitude to those who have been there for us.

And the reason for the beginning of this post is learning (again) that some people I love spend a LOT of time discussing and passing judgment on people they should love rather than just loving…forgiving…and supporting those loved ones.  But at least they are perfect, right? ;D