Devotionals

---

There are times when we just don't want to be happy.

It is one of the profound dangers in writing bi-weekly devotions. In your heart you feel that you should always provide an uplifting message and make people feel as if this world isn't as bad as they think it might be. What do you do when that belief is shaken and the only thing you feel is anger and disappointment? Do you sit at the computer and write lies or do you venture out and give the truth?

I choose truth.

There are people in this world that just don't get it. They live with their heads either buried in the sand or floating up in the clouds. There is no reality in their lives, only an imagined world in which money is free flowing, food is abounding, and illness is merely a cold or a headache. They get up in the morning with blinders on and move through their life only looking at those people who come into their immediate sight line. There is a complete disconnect on what is actually going on around them, and as long as they aren't directly affected then their lives are "perfect".

How does this happen? When did we become so cold to our surroundings that we choose to do nothing rather than something? I am being honest when I say that I am sick of being out in public and having to watch people completely ignore those who are in need. I am talking about the subtle pieces of human kindness and how we seem to have forgotten what it means to care. I am tired of seeing people walk by others who have fallen or need help getting through a door. I am frustrated about the number of individuals who find it necessary to carry on cell phone conversations at noise decibels louder than that of an airplane. I long for the words "please" and "thank you" or "hello" and "how are you?". I would give anything for a kind smile, a small wave, a wink of the eye, and a pat on the shoulder. Why are we so scared of allowing others into our personal bubbles? When did we become an isolationist society that would rather have a text conversation rather than a long talk over a cup of coffee or a cold beer?

Will somebody please stand up and say something?

I know that there are those of you who will make the argument that this is typical of an evolving society. That as technology grows so does the human interactive function. The argument will be made that due to these great advancements in communication (which I take full of advantage of) we are actually able to shrink this world into a manageable entity and one that respects and honors each other.

I cannot argue with those stances and in many ways they are right, but I am still concerned about the group. We tend to spend more time by ourselves because of how much communication can be done from the palms of our hands. The longer we spend by ourselves the easier it is to apply those blinders and block out the large society from our vision. If they are not part of our "network" than why bother with them at all?

If your sister called and said that they needed to talk to you right away...would you? If your sibling fell off a curve and began to cry...would you offer assistance? If your brother was standing on the side of the road and begging for food...would you feed him? What would have to happen in order for you to sacrifice your own wealth for that of someone else's?

This is not our world. It does not belong to us and we do not hold majority ownership of it. We are guests here and even more important is the fact that we are also a family. I am your brother and you are my sister or brother as well. God has given us a wonderful opportunity in which we have the ability to live in a world filled with people who all have the same Father. With that thought in mind let's try this paragraph again:

"If your sister called and said that they needed to talk to you right away...would you? If your sibling fell off a curve and began to cry...would you offer assistance? If your brother was standing on the side of the road and begging for food...would you feed him? What would have to happen in order for you to sacrifice your own wealth for that of someone else's?"

Folks, it is time to take off the blinders. It is time to expand our networks, increase our "friend" count, and make additions to our "contact" numbers. It is time for all of us to begin to look at this world in the manner of, "What can I do for someonelse?" rather than "What can I do for myself". Make this world worth the sacrifice that Jesus made when he died upon the cross and enjoy the world with the same smile that you have when Easter Sunday rolls around.

This is God's world and therefore we should treat others just like we would treat our siblings:

With Love.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE