For several years, I have grieved, stewed, yelled, and prayed over the state of our states. I have read, studied, and written about the effects of hatred, division, anger, and distrust. Somedays, I am disheartened by how some folks value politics, conspiracies, and money more than they do living a loving, compassionate life. Which, to me, is an affront to God.
One of my editors recently told me after I sent her my weekly column, “Lynn, if you need a break, please take one.” She must have read between the words that the state of our states was really getting to me. Even though I tried to mask much anguish by providing encouraging words, it wasn’t hiding from her skills as an editor and friend.
Our tension and despair can hurt much more than our state of mind; it can affect all of us physically. Here I am today, hooked up to the heart monitor to see if my electrical system is off, and if that’s not it, then I am just as I have always been: a bit off.
“Have you been stressed more than normal?” My doctor asked recently. The simple answer was, “Yes!” Sometimes, until someone asks, you don’t realize how much life has worn you down or thrown too many curves.
From family issues to the chronic and caustic state of our states, politicians, and government, we could all use a heart monitor to see if we are still ticking. Or better yet, to see if our hearts are in the right place.
Courage to face heartache
While lying in the hospital a week ago, I tried to avoid the news but couldn’t help but notice a little girl standing alone in the middle of ruins and ash in the streets of her bomb-riddled Ukrainian village. It bothered me so badly that I changed the channel to watch football playing in a dome in America.
The stark contrast hit me like a ton of bricks. Today, some no longer want to help Ukraine because of the money spent. I understand the many arguments, but will we advance as a nation if we do not provide aid? How do we ignore such grief because we prefer to switch channels and enjoy a football game, a rocket ride, or play the stock market?
When Putin’s Russia initially attacked Ukraine, we flew to their rescue. I naively thought this might bring us together as a nation. Unite us in a concentrated effort to help someone else endure a crisis. Americans do not understand such horror because we are blessed not to live where bombs fall around us.
Giving to someone does put our hearts in the right place, but politics and money now dampen the resolve today. It is easy to change the channel when we are tired of witnessing daily horrors abroad.
To continue to aid Ukraine may not be the most economically feasible thing to do, but is it the right thing to do? Yes. Do we feel good when we turn our attention away from others’ pain? No.
Repeating history?
Avoiding and ignoring dictators, bullies, and the antics of those who crave power has advanced depravity. How many millions died at the hands of Hitler before we united to defeat a monstrous killer? Such evil power only falls when met with a greater force.
History has a unique way of repeating itself, doesn’t it? Could it be God must keep reminding us of what is more valuable, our hearts or our wallets? We know the answer; it’s just our minds that get in the way.
I notice the stress from daily turmoil is ebbing when I turn my back on the trouble, but should I? No. With courage, I must again watch the little girl on the streets alone.
She must be searching for something extraordinarily tiny and valuable among the ashes. All she knows is that her school, church, and home are gone, but she keeps digging to find what someone stole.
The scarf tied around her head is soaked from the steady rain, yet she has no safe shelter nearby. She prays as she looks to the gray sky as if God will give her a clue to locate the object of her search.
Hope is a difficult thing to find when all you have is gone.
“But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help – how can the love of God dwell in a person like that?” 1 John 3:17
Our brothers and sisters live far beyond our shores in a place where a child walks alone among the ruins. The love of God must continue to dwell in the hearts of America.