We have a problem...

We have a racism problem in this country. We have a problem with a lack of mobility between socioeconomic classes in this country. We have a problem with political leaders in both parties that cause further division daily, if not hourly, for political gain. We have problem with media that is more into shock and awe than into journalistic integrity, after all the more clicks the better. More clicks mean more money. It's us vs them and it doesn't matter to the politicians and media using these situations who the us or them is, as long as it benefits them in the long run. Meanwhile innocent people continue to die - for being black, for being gay, for wearing blue, and on and on. I said it last night. Hatred spawns hatred and violence begets violence. There is a war raging. And it is not only one that we can see, but it is one that cannot be seen and the enemy is taking great joy in the chaos and turmoil. (Eph 6:12)

And every day more people go home from work and/or school, into their houses, lock the doors and close the blinds, and isolate themselves from being part the world - from "in person", in "real time", in "face to face" encounters. We live in an "on demand" society, one that devalues people, and minimizes and erodes real person to person interactions, empathy and compassion. One where we can hide behind fake personas and a keyboard and, online, anybody can be someone other than who they really are.

I don't have any of the answers really, but I think we have to start by turning off the televisions and computers, getting out of our homes, getting involved and serving in the community, and getting our children out of their isolation. If we continue to segregate ourselves, our children model what they see, day in and day out, and pretty soon, we'll be right back to where we started before the Civil Rights movement of the 60s. Worse, we'll be raising children who don't know how to interact with others in real time, in real ways, with real empathy or compassion. We will have a society that forgets how to have respect for one another and more of the tragedies will occur because we will choose to isolate, segregate and mistrust instead of integrate, dialogue and get to know.

There are bad people in ALL races, genders and occupations, but that does not give us the right to mistrust and assume that everyone in that category is bad and paint them all with the same brush. There are BAD people out there. There are GOOD people out there. And here's the truth, we all have good and bad in us. Light and dark. Every one of us. It is our daily choices and which part, light or dark, that we choose to act on that defines us. As individuals and as a society. (1 John 2:8-11)

Is what is going on now how we want to be remembered in the pages of history? Is a legacy of hatred and segregation and violence what we want our descendants to see when they look around and wonder what has happened to the world as they live in a dystopian society? Or do we want to leave a legacy of healing and compassion and understanding on all sides, one that will flourish against the dark in this world? Darkness hates the light and flees from it. (John 1:5, John 3:19-21) Be the light. Be the example of good in this world. Be the example of what you want your children to grow up to be. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

But in order to do that and affect what is going on in the world around us, we have to step away from the technology, stop hiding, embrace the world that we live in, be the light, the change, the example, and teach our children to do the same. Everything you do matters...so live a life that you won't regret.