These days I just want to hide my head in the sand and ignore all that is going on in the world. My daily dose of NPR just makes me sad. Even John Oliver’s ‘news’ show doesn’t seem very intriguing. There is just so much war and destruction and disregard for human life.
Maybe it’s because I have kids now, but I can’t even think about all the children who are in harm’s way. It’s easier to just ignore it. I mean, what can I even do about it? I can ‘like’ photos on Facebook, or listen to the news, but what good does that do, really? I can write to my congressman, but what would I say? “Make everyone stop killing everyone else!” I’m not sure that would work.
We are so lucky to be on this earth. There is no where (as far as I can fathom) else where life is so perfectly designed. Once, I got to hear an astronaut talk to a bunch of middle schoolers. One of them asked him, “Is there other life out there?” The astronaut’s answer was very interesting.
He said, “When I think about all the things that had to happen perfectly – the Sun being the right temperature, size, distance from Earth, oxygen and water levels on Earth – I don’t think it’s possible that there is life on other planets.”
So, yes, we are lucky. And what are we doing with that lucky existence that we have been given? Where is the focus?
I am here to suggest that our focus be on the beauty all around us. My favorite Anne Frank quote has always been, “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.” Yes, people are still good at heart, but that is only possible because of the beauty. If we stop seeing the beauty, what good is anything else?
Last night, we had a most beautiful sunset. I was struck – as I saw neighbors come out of their houses to watch the changing colors – by just how odd this is. The sun sets everyday. Every day for our entire lives. Yet, we are still amazed by this. We can still be surprised and inspired by something that happens like clockwork.
And that is beautiful. And it gives me faith.
