The search for joy in troubled times...

[PrestonatorSR]

What a horrific week of unfathomable tragedy. My heart is completely broken for the victims (and their loved ones) of the Orlando night club massacre, and I am devastated beyond words for the family that lost their child in the alligator attack. Sadness and despair rule the day; the plague of hate dominates and infects the world in increasingly vicious and shocking ways. I have never been more distraught about the human condition on our planet.

There once was a time when people rallied around each other in times of unthinkable trials and tribulation. Not today. We blame, we attack, we name-call, we ridicule, we simply tear each other down--word by word, thoughtless act after thoughtless act, day after day, year after year. There is apparently no room for civil discourse and respectfully dialoguing and debating our way through very difficult issues. It's an epidemic for which I see no cure. Well, I do see One--LOVE. What has happened to LOVE in our world?

I'll tell you what's happened to it: our own obsession with self--our needs, our views, our way of life is killing it. And I am number one on the guilty list. It happens in big and small ways every single day. It happens when I honk impatiently at an "incompetent" driver; it happens when I roll my eyes at (or ignore in quiet disgust) the homeless person looking for help on the street corner; it happens when I lash out at the customer service associate--indignant about the "injustice" I've experienced; and on and on it goes. Every day I am part of the "where is the LOVE?" problem. And my guess is some of you might be, too. I think we are all guilty. What if LOVE became the number one priority for ALL of us? Maybe, just maybe, that could turn the tide in time.

My dream is that somehow we would all recommit ourselves to LOVING others at a more selfless level--regardless of our viewpoints, our race, our religion, etc. And, if LOVING others who are different than us is just too hard, then at least can we be civil? We are running out of time, I'm afraid.

So, next month, when we return to Disney, I will ask my family to remind me not to be a first class jerk when the bus is late, the CM is rude, we have FP+ trouble, and all those other "travesties" that interfere with the quality of MY vacation. I will ask them to remind me to respond in LOVE and compassion--and with a little class.

I don't know that any of this is of any value to anyone--I HIGHLY doubt it; but it was therapeutic as I try to find the Light in all the darkness of these days. Spread LOVE today.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I had just read your post when my PC dinged about an incoming e-mail. I looked at it and it was an CNN alert saying the wife of the shooter from last weekend may face charges. If she had just stopped her husband or contacted authorities, think of all the tragedy and sorrow she could have saved. But she didn't. I can't say why, but if she was only thinking of herself, and "not wanting to get involved", well, she is involved now.

I use to look forward to the future and wanted to find out what's in store. I'm not nearly as optimistic as I once was, and I regret that.

 

[Puffy2]

You have written what I have thought. For months I have been saying to myself, "Where is the love?"

It's not just in this instance or just this week. You are correct; it is in everything that we do. Our culture is so shallow and impatient - so full of impulsive judgement and self righteousness. It is reflected in what we see on TV (mostly garbage). It is felt in simple ways when someone is clearly in need and yet most turn away.

I don't know what the answer is; but it is nice to hear someone else thinks a few of the thoughts that I do. Thanks.

 

[pattyw]

Thank you for your post. We feel so overwhelmed by these tragedies and feel powerless to do anything. But you just reminded us that every one of us can start by simply showing love rather than judgement- Let's all pay it forward.

 

[jenf22]

My favorites quotes from TommorrowLand come to mind:

"In every moment there's the possibility of a better future, but you people won't believe it. And because you won't believe it you won't do what is necessary to make it a reality. You dwell on this terrible future and you resign yourselves to it for one reason, because that future doesn't ask anything of you today."

and

"There are two wolves who are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. The question is... which wolf wins?
The one you feed."

I have the latter one printed and on my wall at work. We have the news playing at work a lot and I honestly believe we are all feeding the wrong wolf. Thank you for a well written post OP.

 

[gzmtlock]

Love wins.