When you are through changing, you are through
Bruce Barton
As an African American Male born, raised and currently residing in the South I write this entry in a state of extreme exasperation.... but with the utmost objectivity. It is truly a sad, sad day when people have to put disclaimers on what they say or believe is true in a society that champions free speech. Unfortunately as some of us know or have been led to believe “Perception is reality”. I, however honestly don’t subscribe to that mode of reasoning. Reality is reality, not one’s perception of it. To me, that train of thought is for the sensitive, the weak or the undereducated. Those individuals that are too scared or too proud to have a properly grounded moral code or live a life of true integrity. Regretfully a great many individuals within our society have become too content with being followers instead of leaders. Nonetheless, I digress.
That is not the topic of today’s discussion…
Pollution comes in many forms. One type of pollution is often overlooked. Inspirational Author Chuck Swindoll calls it verbal pollution. This type of pollution is generally passed around by grumblers, complainers and criticizers. In an age of environmental conservation and preservation for the planet on which we live, it’s only fitting that we do the same for the spirit that lives within us.
The Word of God says that we are to let no corrupt word proceed out of our mouths, but what is good for necessary edification. Short version: If you don’t have anything good to say…. don’t say any thing. For some people that I have had the displeasure of interacting with were they to actually put that into practice today, they would never utter another word.
The 10th law of the 48 Laws of Power written by Robert Green and Joost Effers, states:
Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and the Unlucky. You can die from someone else’s misery – Emotional states are just as infectious as disease. You may feel that you are helping the drowning man but you are only participating in your own disaster. The unfortunates sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they may also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.
Ask yourself this question: If you could do one thing to make the world around you a better place what would it be? We all have the ability to make the world in which we live a better place to live one random act of kindness at a time. Do your part. Make a vow to yourself to make wherever you go a better place than it was before you arrived. Try to see the good in every person and every situation (Disclaimer: Tying to see the good in people should stop the minute you realize that the person refuses to see the good within themselves and has no intention of changing. Stop frustrating yourself wanting something for someone when they don’t even want it for themselves). You don’t always have to have a reason to do something to help someone. It doesn’t always have to be something in it for you. So many of us miss an opportunity to enrich our lives by helping someone else because we don’t want to risk being abused, used or misused. Now granted we aren’t to be doormats or naïve. There are predators out there that take people’s kindness for weakness. There are unsavory individuals out there that look for any opportunity to “get over” and try to take what they have absolutely no right to. However, that does not exempt us from doing our part to enrich the lives of the people around us in some way. Always remember that GOD honors effort.
Go Green.
