And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
Mark 7:20-23 (CSB)
My wife once asked my why I don't pay more attention to the news. I cant handle the hate in the world. As some may know, I am a fairly negative person to begin with. But today my heart is filled with anger about all the hate and violence. Today Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, an incredible Christian man was killed at one of his rally's in Utah. That someone could ever hate someone else because of words and opinions to the point of wanting to and then killing them is beyond comprehension.
My once game related and happy news feed has been more filled with regular news as my wife wants me to stay up to date with the world. As I feel the hurt at the loss of an honest and good man, even if you disagreed with his stances, I scrolled further into my google news feed. Looking for something else. Good news, Nintendo announced a new Direct this Friday. Good news, Hyundai is slowly taking shares of the younger population looking for fun sporty cars they can afford. Bad news, Three students are critically injured in another school shooting, one of them the shooter. Bad News, 6 dead in Israel at a bus stop shooting. Bad News, Teen arrested in Washington state with "school shooter ideations." Bad News, Body found in an impounded Tesla, no ID on the body yet. Sickening news, (and I don't even have kids) "School Shooting industry is worth billons - and it keeps growing. This is why I don't read the news. I stopped there, I don't want to read more.
Life is hard in America right now. With inflation and the cost of goods going insane because of tariffs or whatever, it is becoming harder and harder just to make ends meet. Why are we so against our brothers and sisters. Why have we let our differences, our opinions, are views keep us from being human. If you disagree with someone, fine do not follow them, do not watch their content, block them. Follow only who you agree with, its ok. But do not throw away your ability to be a decent human and take the life of someone you disagree with. I believe that the only person that deserves to die is someone that takes the life of another. You murder, you should be put to death.
We are more than half way done with the horrible 2020s. I long for the days when all people complained about were having to wear masks or not. Truth is people, we need to grow up. Stop being offended by everything. You don't like something or someone, do not cancel them, do not destroy something, speak up, with reasonable thought not feelings.
Our lives are so short. As I learned this year, your life can be over in the blink of an eye, it can catch you unaware. Let's work together to build a better future now. Not one filled with barriers, dividers, labels, segregation, but love, brotherhood, and an outlook on life that once we all work together, we can conquer the stars. Let's use a little bit of love to guide everything we do. Life and love are always the answer.
God, please help us to see your reflection in every person, so we may recognize our shared humanity and tear down the walls of prejudice that divide us. Fill our hearts with a love that is patient and kind, binding us together in harmony. Guide our words and actions to be instruments of peace, building bridges rather than burning them. May we work together, hand in hand, for the good of all. Amen.
