I signed up for a blogging challenge: Building a Blogging Habit. My first challenge is to free write for twenty minutes. Free writing is beneficial in expressing yourself and just allowing your thoughts to flow. I want to write on a more consistent basis because I have a lot to say. I’m always thinking about something and have something to say about everything that I read. Recently, I have been beyond shocked by the number of young people committing violent crimes. I wonder what could go so wrong in a person’s mind that he or she thinks it is okay to attack others. I know I will probably never find the answer, but I still think about it.
Two stories stood out to me: the recent killings by the young man in California and a story I read today about two 12 year-old girls that plotted to attack another 12 year old. The young man in California wanted vengeance and decided to be the source of retribution. He took the time to write an entire manifesto about his intentions. The young girls led another young girl to the woods, on the premise to play, and one held her down and the other stabbed her 19 times! I can’t fathom the level of insanity in these young people’s thoughts. I am not saying their crazy, but I am saying their thoughts were crazy. How did they think this would end? How could they think their actions made sense? These are just two of the stories that have troubled me.
These stories cause me to pause and think of the world that my granddaughter will experience her childhood. Her childhood is so different from her dad’s. Her dad could go to the park and I believed he would make it home safely. My granddaughter has to be supervised. Not just because of her age, but because of pedophiles and predators. The people who lay in wait to wreak havoc on others. Because of these people, no one is safe. This lack of safety manifests itself in our daily actions. We have to always be aware of our surroundings and take precautions all the time. We can do everything right and still can be a victim. This harsh reality could cause us to feel hopeless, and decide to be a hermit.
However, I refuse to allow predators and pedophiles to dictate my life! I will not leave in fear because I am confident in the one that is still in control. I know you may be wondering who I am talking about. I’m talking about God. He is still in control! He holds my destiny in his hand. He is concerned about me and this comforts me. I know there are so many times I could have been harmed, but I have to pause and think of all the times I didn’t know danger was present. I am grateful for God caring about me, and being concerned about everything that concerns me. God is the source of my hope! I love Him because He loves me! I love Him for being the source of my strength and happiness.
Even though we live in a world that provides reasons to feel hopeless. I yet have hope. When I read a good story, my hope is strengthened. When I view my facebook newsfeed and read about all of graduates, I have hope! When I brows IG and see the graduations pics, I gain even more hope! When I read the news, and read about someone doing something good for another human, my hope is strengthened even more! Even though evil is ever present, good always wins! I still believe in treating others the way I want to be treated. There is still value in taking the time to be concerned about someone other than myself. I choose to be a source of encouragement and positivity. I want encouragement and positivity to be synonymous with my name.
Each of us can choose to be a source of encouragement and positivity. It only takes one person to make a difference. Will you choose to be that one?
naturalprofessor 