PERSPECTIVE

In today's world, it's easy to become jaded.

Turn on any broadcast and before long, a depressing news story, offensive programming, or obnoxious commercials will come on. Pick up a newspaper and the sad state of world affairs is written on almost every page. Watch people and see examples of conspicuous consumption, waste, and apathy. Everywhere we turn, we find another example of why cynicism is the order of the day.

I don't want to do that any more.

I'm not going to deny that there are some rotten aspects to our world, but I have finally come to realize that to focus on them does not help anyone have a better life. This morning, I finally said "Enough." I snapped off the radio and in silence, remembered that I have a choice.

I can get caught up in road rage or I can be glad someone let me merge into the lane in front of him; curse intolerance or recognize its influence on developing a good value system; despair over something I want or rejoice over something I have; and brood over how little time I have for fun or capture the moment and make a lasting memory out of it.

I can envy people I know with loving families or I can console those I know from broken homes; get frustrated when it takes a long time to find something in a store or be humbled when I remember there are places where the stores don't exist; focus on how tough school is or how many would gladly take my seat in the classroom; complain about stupidity or compliment insight; feel anger at all those who cause problems or joy for all those who work on solutions; and mourn this country's poor health care system or sing the praises of new medications that are helping so many.

I can feel bad about the moral degeneration of society or feel good about spiritual awakenings happening everywhere; cry over hate and indifference or act in love and charity; bend your ear with my tales of woe or lend my ear to yours; frown at what I hate about my job or smile at what I like about it; and pine over days and youth lost or live the days to come with childlike delight.

I can grumble how my neighbors haven't come to meet me or I can extend my hand to them; I can concentrate on the misfortune of being betrayed or the good fortune of knowing people who will always stand by me; be fearful about how technology is making the world colder or be fascinated by how it is bringing us closer together; fill my mind with "Pulp Fiction" or "Chicken Soup;" think about how crazy it is to pay ten bucks to see "Star Wars" or pay nothing to sit outside and see the stars; feel alone because I don't have a spouse to kiss me at the door or feel lucky because I have a dog that does; look at the factory smokestack or the lake and sunset beyond it.

I can look at the people of this world and see Hitler or Gandhi, Dennis Rodman or Cal Ripken, the teenage gang who vandalized the house or the church youth group who cleaned it up; I can read the People magazine story about the star couple who divorced after 60 days or hear Paul Harvey celebrate the ordinary couple who are still together after 60 years; I can believe that God doesn't exist because of the tornados that destroyed Oklahoma towns or believe that he does because so many people came out to help the victims that they had nothing left for them to do.

Yes, we live in a time when many things are not as we would like them to be, and we can spend our lives dwelling on it. But it won't get better until we stop, give thanks for who we are and what we have, and communicate that appreciation in all that we do.

There is good in life. Choose to see it, and help it increase.
                   
--Michael Bischoff, The Simply Love Foundation - 6/15/99