I don’t know about you, but I am tired of all the divisiveness in this country at the moment. It seems to have invaded politics, schools, families, and homes. I cannot turn on the t.v. or listen to a news story or even surf Facebook without encountering it. Often I find myself confused, with one leg in each camp, wondering just where is the truth? As I seek information, I am aware of each side’s bias…of facts given, facts withheld, the “slant” of news, etc. and I end up more frustrated than ever.
I have friends who have decided to boycott news at the moment. To them (and maybe they are right), it is just not worth the negative feelings which are evoked: frustration, anger, shock, worry. One says that her backyard (her own inner circle of work, family, church) is enough to be concerned about; that she cannot handle anything else. I am beginning to agree with her; when my energy is spent trying to decode news or determine whether or not certain immigrants should be allowed in this country, I have less strength available to do what needs to be done close to home. Yet, I don’t want to be the proverbial ostrich and hide my head in the sand. These issues ARE important. Extremely so.
Yet I think of Titus 2: 3-4: “In the same way, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They should not gossip nor be drunkards. Instead, they should teach what is good. They should teach younger women to love their spouses and their children, to live wisely and to be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be subject to their husbands. Then they will not dishonor the Word of God”.
In other words, I should obey the famous British sign which was spread throughout the Isles before World War II. It exhorted the British to “Keep calm and carry on”. They expected invasions and bombings and attacks from all sides…and they received them. Yet, the government knew that if everyone could maintain calm, and not panic, and keep on doing whatever it was they did on a daily basis; then peace would eventually come. So they continued to farm, and nurse, and wash clothes, and care for babies, build houses, and work in a myriad ways. When air raids shattered the quiet and smashed houses and people to smithereens, they grabbed brooms and shovels and dug out what could be useful and cleaned up the rubble as best they could. When they felt they could no longer protect their children, they tearfully sent them to the country. Young men and women signed up in droves to fight. Older men and women volunteered in hundreds of ways. Instead of just fretting, each did what he/she could.
These issues that face us today ARE important. But, we should live in a way that shows our values; not just rant about them. Living is so much harder than talking. Practice is always better than theory.
For me, I need to take care of my family. I need to be diligent at home and at work; to care for my animals, cook meals, clean, do laundry. At the same time, I am actively looking/listening for ways to live out my values.
My motto? KEEP CALM and LIVE OUT YOUR VALUES.