Or maybe this one: “C’mon, Elsa! Get it together!” My almost-three-year-old said this to her doll who kept falling over” (Masey Cossey/Huff Post). We can relate.
It is a lifelong problem that starts way back when we were toddlers. What is that problem? Trying to learn how to control our impulses, especially when we get angry at someone and suddenly want revenge. These urges seem to have taken over our world recently with more and more protests, violence, and uncontrolled anger. Wanting our own way all the time with no compromise. Sadly, we are witnessing adults acting more like toddlers.
This type of “eye for an eye” behavior can even spill over into our everyday lives and may have affected the former situation that got us to where we are today. But that was the past and there is no more condemnation here to address for any of us. We have successfully made it this far and we cheer on each strong woman in our midst.
“An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” (Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer and anti-colonial nationalist who employed non-violence).
How Do We See More Clearly?
What great insight! We
have never heard it put that way, but we could adopt this motto to create a
better world for ourselves and those around us. Wouldn’t it be something
wonderful if we could help ourselves and others to see more clearly? To
look at solutions with an attitude of inclusion instead of excluding people from
our little world.
How do we do this? Great question but the answer(s) may not be easy. In fact, it is difficult to even begin to think of how to change things as they are right now. It is going to take a while, but we must begin somewhere if we want to see change. We believe remedies could be different for each of us depending on where we live and who we come in touch with on a daily basis.
There are no quick fixes. Maybe open a notebook or journal and start just jotting down problems we see in our own neighborhoods. How do we see it could be better? List questions that come up to solve as we go along. It does not have to be anything massively complicated. If we are looking for something a little easier to start this process, that can be done.
- Keep our eyes open at the grocery store for anyone who needs help.
- Go out of our way to say Hello! to someone we have never met.
- Be friendly and smile at the drug store clerk.
- Offer to find boxes for someone moving and include a roll of tape.
- Do something good for someone we dislike.
We get the idea. There are a million little things we can do. Each week make a list that is a tiny bit more challenging and before we know it, we will forget about ourselves and be more open to and for others. Just ask, how many people in my own neighborhood do I actually know or talk to?
For All of Eternity
One more important thing
to think about: if we already know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can be
assured we are going to heaven one day. And all those people we have avoided in
our everyday lives, who also know Jesus, will be in heaven with us for all of
eternity! It would be best if we begin now and start loving others no matter
their race, color, or which side of town they live on. True?
“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? . . .No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously” (Matthew 5:38, 42 The Message).
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