A few months ago I posted on my Facebook wall asking for input as to WHAT topics of discussion were of the most interest. Wow! I received many, many replies and I am ready to begin tackling them, one by one - along with any additional ones you choose to share with me as well.
The first topic of discussion is one that is on MY mind:
The shootings in Tuscon, Arizona!
Before I begin with my thoughts on the above, let me just say that my heart goes out to everyone involved with the shootings, their families, friends, associates and those who's job it is to attend to those killed or injured as well as the investigation, clean up, litigation and anything else that may be involved. Much of what is involved is gruesome and puts a drain on the goodness and very fabric of all life.
Over the past few days, since the shooting, I have seen so many things and heard so many things on the TV, on Facebook and in the local Newspapers. I have seen and heard some horrific, unimaginable images/descriptions as they relate to the events that took place that day. I have also seen and heard some tender, awe-inspiring, hope-giving, miraculous images/descriptions. THEN, I have seen and heard the people of our great nation carry on about who is to blame and why this person or that person is or isn't to blame seemingly endlessly with everyone screaming louder than the last person, trying to drown out anyone/everyone else who has their opinion about that terrible event. All of this while families have had their lives torn apart, lives lost, horrific injuries have been sustained and the very heart of our country has been attacked and injured.
I have seen people on television and on Facebook say things like:
"if you like Sarah Palin or have any positive thoughts of her, delete me from your friend list!"
"it is the Republicans and their right-wing trash talk"
"it is the Democrats and their left-wing whackadoodle talk"
"it is because of Rush Limbaugh and his conservative ramblings"
REALLY?
Is it REALLY that important to affix blame on someone or some group, today? Right at this moment? In the midst of all the pain, anguish, confusion, injury and death - all the negative energy swirling around the entire nation and we want to ADD to it by trying to be the first one who determines guilt and blame?
First off, the authorities have just begun digging into the situation and have yet to come up with a determination as to why the accused young man did what he did. What does that mean? It means WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED, AS OF YET.
Secondly, there is a seemingly endless list of people or organizations that could have contributed to the cause of the accused young man's despicable actions.
Yes, the actions of the accused young man are vile and conjure up every negative emotion and every kind of fear, anger and rage imaginable - that is UNDERSTANDABLE!
But - if you would, for a moment, allow your mind to form positive images of this situation and focus upon them. Positive? How can there be anything positive coming from something so horrendous? Well, let's take a look:
*What a blessing more people weren't injured
*What a blessing more people weren't killed
*What a blessing there were heroes amongst the crowd to step in and protect some and save others - such as the young man who possibly saved the Congresswoman's life by his actions
*What a blessing for the ginormous outpouring of love and support for all involved
*What an opportunity to galvanize the entire country into a country that wants to and is committed to change - Change? Yes! - changes in how we talk to each other and treat each other, whether it is you and I speaking on the street; a policeman with a suspect; media reporting the news in a truthful 'non-spun' manner that provides accurate news accounts and is not presented only as a means to gain ratings points and/or stir public opinion; our elected officials speaking to one another AND to the public; all of our leaders (business, entertainment, political) speaking and treating each other with integrity, honesty, equality, dignity and respect.
*Rather than focusing on blame, imagine on working WITH each other to brainstorm; to come up with ideas - ways to prevent such things from ever happening again. Ways to bring people together with a positive, forward moving approach to improvement.
This situation can be an opportunity to make America stronger and more united OR it can be a continuation of the status quo. We can make things better or we can continue down the road to ruin. We can find common ground for common goals or we can keep playing politics, spin games and spewing half truths, innuendos, blame, bigotry and hatred until there is nothing left to care about - other than trying to survive as neighbor sets about destroying neighbor.
There is a great deal of fear and anger in our country and a great deal of pain - indeed. I submit to you, however that the pain we are feeling comes from living in the past! I further submit to you that the fear we are feeling arises from the "what if's" of the future! I finally submit to you that we are given only one guarantee in life and that guarantee is this very moment - that we are in right NOW! The past and the future do not exist, other than in the images we choose to view from within the experiences locked away, like movies, deep within the cells of our brains. What am I saying to you here? That we don't have to watch those 'movies' about pain and/or fear if we don't want to. WE HAVE A CHOICE!
Consider this for a moment: Be educated by/learn from the past - Be inspired towards the future - LIVE today, in the "now", in this moment. As we focus upon what IS, the moments of the "now" get longer and longer until eventually we exist only in the "now" and are able to live life as it is ----- not as it was or as it might be!
So, what am I saying and what does it have to do with the horrific event from above? We have the choice to acknowledge the tragic event and all that is a part of it. We then have the choice to transmute the horrific and negative images of it into opportunities to learn and to improve and to be grateful and to move forward in faith, with the possibility of healing for everyone involved.
I offer you strength, courage and love; to consider what I've shared with the hope of something shining forth that can help ALL life - to improve and grow stronger, together - as one.
What do YOU think?
Exploring Life's Options With Chuck / Chat with Chuck chuck@chatwithchuck.net www.chatwithchuck.net
Before I begin with my thoughts on the above, let me just say that my heart goes out to everyone involved with the shootings, their families, friends, associates and those who's job it is to attend to those killed or injured as well as the investigation, clean up, litigation and anything else that may be involved. Much of what is involved is gruesome and puts a drain on the goodness and very fabric of all life.
Over the past few days, since the shooting, I have seen so many things and heard so many things on the TV, on Facebook and in the local Newspapers. I have seen and heard some horrific, unimaginable images/descriptions as they relate to the events that took place that day. I have also seen and heard some tender, awe-inspiring, hope-giving, miraculous images/descriptions. THEN, I have seen and heard the people of our great nation carry on about who is to blame and why this person or that person is or isn't to blame seemingly endlessly with everyone screaming louder than the last person, trying to drown out anyone/everyone else who has their opinion about that terrible event. All of this while families have had their lives torn apart, lives lost, horrific injuries have been sustained and the very heart of our country has been attacked and injured.
I have seen people on television and on Facebook say things like:
"if you like Sarah Palin or have any positive thoughts of her, delete me from your friend list!"
"it is the Republicans and their right-wing trash talk"
"it is the Democrats and their left-wing whackadoodle talk"
"it is because of Rush Limbaugh and his conservative ramblings"
REALLY?
Is it REALLY that important to affix blame on someone or some group, today? Right at this moment? In the midst of all the pain, anguish, confusion, injury and death - all the negative energy swirling around the entire nation and we want to ADD to it by trying to be the first one who determines guilt and blame?
First off, the authorities have just begun digging into the situation and have yet to come up with a determination as to why the accused young man did what he did. What does that mean? It means WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED, AS OF YET.
Secondly, there is a seemingly endless list of people or organizations that could have contributed to the cause of the accused young man's despicable actions.
Yes, the actions of the accused young man are vile and conjure up every negative emotion and every kind of fear, anger and rage imaginable - that is UNDERSTANDABLE!
But - if you would, for a moment, allow your mind to form positive images of this situation and focus upon them. Positive? How can there be anything positive coming from something so horrendous? Well, let's take a look:
*What a blessing more people weren't injured
*What a blessing more people weren't killed
*What a blessing there were heroes amongst the crowd to step in and protect some and save others - such as the young man who possibly saved the Congresswoman's life by his actions
*What a blessing for the ginormous outpouring of love and support for all involved
*What an opportunity to galvanize the entire country into a country that wants to and is committed to change - Change? Yes! - changes in how we talk to each other and treat each other, whether it is you and I speaking on the street; a policeman with a suspect; media reporting the news in a truthful 'non-spun' manner that provides accurate news accounts and is not presented only as a means to gain ratings points and/or stir public opinion; our elected officials speaking to one another AND to the public; all of our leaders (business, entertainment, political) speaking and treating each other with integrity, honesty, equality, dignity and respect.
*Rather than focusing on blame, imagine on working WITH each other to brainstorm; to come up with ideas - ways to prevent such things from ever happening again. Ways to bring people together with a positive, forward moving approach to improvement.
This situation can be an opportunity to make America stronger and more united OR it can be a continuation of the status quo. We can make things better or we can continue down the road to ruin. We can find common ground for common goals or we can keep playing politics, spin games and spewing half truths, innuendos, blame, bigotry and hatred until there is nothing left to care about - other than trying to survive as neighbor sets about destroying neighbor.
There is a great deal of fear and anger in our country and a great deal of pain - indeed. I submit to you, however that the pain we are feeling comes from living in the past! I further submit to you that the fear we are feeling arises from the "what if's" of the future! I finally submit to you that we are given only one guarantee in life and that guarantee is this very moment - that we are in right NOW! The past and the future do not exist, other than in the images we choose to view from within the experiences locked away, like movies, deep within the cells of our brains. What am I saying to you here? That we don't have to watch those 'movies' about pain and/or fear if we don't want to. WE HAVE A CHOICE!
Consider this for a moment: Be educated by/learn from the past - Be inspired towards the future - LIVE today, in the "now", in this moment. As we focus upon what IS, the moments of the "now" get longer and longer until eventually we exist only in the "now" and are able to live life as it is ----- not as it was or as it might be!
So, what am I saying and what does it have to do with the horrific event from above? We have the choice to acknowledge the tragic event and all that is a part of it. We then have the choice to transmute the horrific and negative images of it into opportunities to learn and to improve and to be grateful and to move forward in faith, with the possibility of healing for everyone involved.
I offer you strength, courage and love; to consider what I've shared with the hope of something shining forth that can help ALL life - to improve and grow stronger, together - as one.
What do YOU think?
Exploring Life's Options With Chuck / Chat with Chuck chuck@chatwithchuck.net www.chatwithchuck.net
I agree w/ ur thoughts....also we don't want this to happen again. when someone shows the signs this guy did; we must get them help! this was not done. a simple form would have kept loughner from easily buying a gun. also if more good guys had guns he would have been stopped quicker. so my way of being positive is to "fix it" so next time things will be different, I really enjoy ur blog- thanx Chuck.
ReplyDeleteSee the power of positive thoughts within you. God bless you.
ReplyDelete