Faith Farm

Change

I was up at an unusually early hour this morning so I thought I'd turn on the computer and see what was going on in the world.  I see that it is official now, the Fed has announced the US has been in a recession since Dec 2007....glad they finally figured out what most of us have already felt and known.  Yeah I know--a bit sarcastic--it's a numbers thing.  There were a few other headlines that caught my eye-Pentagon to deploy 20,000 troops in the US...interesting...I am curious to see who is going to be in charge of these troops...State or Fed?....Looks like it will fall under FEMA....HMMMMM...something to think about anyway.  I also read some headlines on the Pres.-elect Obama's choices for his new team members....alot of familiar faces taking key cabinet positions.  I see that they are going to have to use the "Saxbe fix" again to skirt the Constitution.  Seems like that happens alot.  There are a number of other headlines that I found interesting but won't bore you with.  I have noticed that when you look at the media only one or twice a week it keeps you informed but doesn't bog down your daily life.  There is so much going on and so many ways to get information these days that I personally think it desensitizes us to what is happening.  Does that make since?  Take for example the markets.  You have dramatic gains and losses now--your talking about losses of 600+ points in a day and gains of triple digits--talk about a rollercoaster ride!  Yet only a year ago these types of headlines would have been horribly shocking-and now they have become the norm.  Desensitization.  That is only the tip of the iceburg so to speak.  Can you imagine how shocking today's headlines would be only 10 years ago?  Terrorism being an everyday topic?  Who woulda thunk it?  And yet it still doesn't shock us today------I pray that I don't get so numb to things that I am no longer shocked by it and that my heart doesn't harden to the point that that I cannot see.  Yes I do long for the days that your house was always open and church doors were never locked-but those days are gone.  When you read stories of a man being trompled to death because of a sale at W-mart....it really makes you wonder---What kind of people have so little regard for human life that they can step on another human being to death?!  The same kind of people who give gift certificates for abortions.....Oh it is a sad-sad thing we as a nation of people have become.  Let us not become so numb that we cannot feel compassion for one another.  This nation needs a change.....a change of heart...that is not something any political figure can do...it's a choice each and everyone of us have to make and make on a daily basis....do we stop our busy lives long enough to make a difference in someone elses life.  Are we so busy with our own that we can't take 2 minutes to be kind to the elderly lady in the store or open a door for the woman with wrestling with a handful of children.  It breaks my heart when kindness is the shocking thing and when cynicism replaces empathy.   Let me tell you a story about something that happened to me this last week----I went to the local feed mill and got my usual run of feed-I was busy on the phone and did not pay attention to the new guy loading my feed and when I got home I noticed that there was an extra bag of high-dollar feed in the back-one that I did not pay for...in all honesty....it took me a moment to decide what I should do....I wanted to say yipeee--free feed!  but my better side knew I needed to call and explain what had happened.  So I did...and the response I got was what shocked me the most.  I told them what had happened and I'd pay for the bag the next time I came in....They were very puzzled acting on the phone--so the next time I went in to town I made a run to the mill and picked up my ticket...they still seemed totally shocked and almost questioned why I did...the look was actually skeptical like I had another motive for doing it...it was a very odd situation.  The lady apoligized for the event but the look of puzzled never left her face.  Yes I know...who would have known?  I would have.  How can I expect others to treat me honestly and fairly if I do not treat others the same way.  The point I am getting to is not one of hey-look at what I did-"toot-toot my horn"-but the fact that honesty is so uncommon that even that is met with skepticism.  Are we so far from where we should be that we can no longer look at another person without questioning their motives or integrity?  I am just as guilty...I see the "homeless" man on the street corner holding a sign and ask myself...hmmmm-is he one of those cons clearing $200,000 a year begging on the street?  Sad-Sad.  Where is my heart?  Am I giving him a dollar because I want to help someone in need...if he is not for-real does that change the motive behind my actions?  Am I doing it because of me or am I doing it because of him?   Am I going to have to answer to his actions?  No....but I am going to have to answer to mine.  And something tells me that using the excuse for not helping the needy or feeding the hungry is because I thought they might be a con-artist isn't going to get me very far.  I'm not out to save the world or am I trying to get anyone else to...but wouldn't it be a better place if we all took just a few minutes out of each day to be nice to each other-to smile and be kindhearted.  To make a difference to those we do come into contact with--Why do we find that so hard to do?  Wave at your mailman, be kind to the pregnant cashier who is snappy with you or the gas station attendant who has been up all night.  Everyone has their own story and reasons--is it so much easier to be mean back-than to be nice?  We have to start somewhere....we can't be so afraid that we forget what makes us who we are.  I know there has to be more caring compassionate people in this world than there is hard-hearted people.  We just get lost in the business of the day....I think it is high time we find ourselves....not because 'tis the season' but because that is who we are...a nation filled with honorable, trustworthy, compassionate, caring people.  Politics can't make that kind of change-but the people can-we can.  Blessings>faithfarm

Untitled Comment

{ 08:55, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 } { Posted by heritagehill }

I agree!
Marilyn

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{ 11:43, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 } { Posted by Amanda }

Well said my friend!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

Beautifully Said

{ 12:20, Friday, December 5, 2008 } { Posted by Lizzy }

Your message was beautiful and we need to hear it now more than ever. Being happy and being kind to others is a choice and it is one we all make everytime we come into contact with someone else.

God Bless,

Lizzy