Meanwhile, In America

Meanwhile in America…..while the media would want you to believe there are acts of violence being perpetrated on every street corner….there isn’t.

There are terrible things happening world wide.  I’m not in denial about that.

But the world, I hope, would like to see that the human nature is strong and well and alive.  Every where.

Here, in America, while the world is being bombarded with the horrific actions of a few that have injured and altered the lives of many, there is a continuity of decency and goodness.

Tonight, right here, right now I can tell you what I know.

Some people are gathering with family for dinner.  Extended family coming in to join them.   Some people are gathering for church programs.  Some parents and friends are cheering on little kids playing in ball games every where.  Some people are driving up and down the main streets of their little towns.   Waving.  Smiling.  Some people are gathering and collecting money and goods to send to those in need, right here in America, or across the globe in other countries.  Because there are people in need every where.  And people who are willing to help are every where too.

There are little groups of people sitting in a local ice cream shop, smiling over a cone, and a sundae.

I know people are baking, preparing for company tomorrow.

I know there are people practicing their singing for a program.

I know there are people heading into work at the local hospital for their night shift duties.    And the corner convenience store is pretty busy with people stopping in for gas.

Someone down the street is burning a small fire in their backyard fire pit, talking softly around the fire.

The folks down the street in the other direction have already turned off their lights and gone to bed.

There are some kids playing in the dark of their yard catching fire flies and screaming because they caught them, and screaming again when they let them go.

In a house on a hill some friends and their kids are watching movies together at home, to save money, but really-it’s more comfortable to stay home and have fun with company than go out and sit hushed.

Someone just spent the day with their mom shopping and eating out.

Someone else just visited their elderly father in the nursing home, helping him eat his dinner and then treating him to some home made chocolates.

Some people are sitting on their porches feeling the soft night air, thinking and praying for the people who’s lives have been changed.

While bad things are happening.   Good people are refusing to be told to exist in hate.