An Optimist's View of a Complicated World
SeaStar Services
The world is so complicated now. Every day, it seems that we are hearing about more violence, whether is it’s our community, our country, or our world. It seems that the ideas of common decency, willingness to accept differences of others, and patience are things of the past.
What is the response that we, people of peace and faith are to have? Do we turn to our faith system and pray/meditate? Do we stick with those who think like we do and try to just stay out of the way of others? Do we spend time looking for someone to blame? Do we turn off the news, whether on TV, radio, or online? Do we accept the world as it is and focus on our own needs and wants?
Some say that we need to take our concern to the polls and vote for the person who thinks most like us and count on them to make the change. Some say that we need to take to the streets, lift our voices, and let our concerns be known. Some say that we need to accept the status quo and live our lives as best we can.
If I were to join the discussion, (and I guess I am now), I would say that our response will and must be as diverse as our world is. We can vote, protest, focus ourselves, pray, meditate, chant. I believe that if all peace seekers would do something, each in her or his own way, there would be a difference. A solution is just as complex as the problems of terrorism, police violence, crime.
So if we act our conscience, and not just think our conscience; in whatever way is comfortable for us, perhaps there would be a change. In other words, if we take our position from within the confines of our friends and colleagues, and step out into the world we so worry about, and do something, I believe our collective positive actions can make the world a little less complicated.
I am often called a hopeless optimist. And that is probably true. But I refuse to believe there is no way to end the violence we are faced with every day. It’s time for a change and we are the ones who can make that change.