I was driving around town tonight listening to talk radio, which honestly, I need to stop doing. Yes, I want to be informed about politics. Yes, I need to understand both sides of the “story” whatever it happens to be. But lately – actually for months – talk radio has done nothing but piss me off. I either get caught up in somebody’s rant about how easily politicians and media machines can pull the wool over the eyes of general citizenry, or I just hear more gloom and doom about the state of the world, whether it’s global warming or the breakdown of foreign policy. Nobody likes anybody any more, and somehow, nobody seems to mind. But everybody likes to complain about it, which to me sounds ludicrously counterproductive. Can’t people understand how easily negativity breeds more negativity?
My dream list? Here goes:
I want people to believe in God. I don’t care “how” it’s done, I just wish everybody could see the Creator as He truly is. Myself included. Problem is, it’s an ongoing journey. And most of us get lazy.
I want people to listen more than they talk. That way they can put away their misguided preconceived notions of each other and really begin to understand one another.
I want people to believe in the power of love. So much that they can’t help but let it flow out from themselves and into the lives of others. To create such positive energy in the world could change…just, everything…. If we would just let it.
I want people to stop sleepwalking through their lives! Myself most of all! The way the world actually is functioning right now, who knows how much longer we will be here! It’s so easy to say we should live in the moment, or live each day as our last, or whatever the feel-good saying du jour might be. Does anybody realize how truly difficult that is?
I guess most of all I just want to know that the future is going to be all right. I think about the war in Iraq and the insidious spread of terrorism, and how everybody (including me) gets so filled with fear that the only response is to kill everybody else. Don’t get me wrong here; I am not a war-protester. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes certain situations escalate to a point where little else can be done but to wage war. I don’t have to like it, but I understand the rationale, at least to a point. With the presidential elections coming up, it seems like our enemies are poised and waiting, watching for the chance to strike. A significant change in national leadership strikes me as the perfect opportunity. But maybe that’s just me getting jittery.
But I cannot let fear overtake me. I need to focus on the Light. I need to be strong, and more focused in my prayer. I need to focus on all that can be right in this world, not what is tearing us all apart. I just don’t want to do it alone.