Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Twenty-Six and Beyond
A friend of mine has been contemplating how best to be an agent of positive transformation in the culture. After the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary a journalist suggested a practice of doing at last one kind thing a day for 26 days (for each person killed)-like donating to a homeless person on the street, paying for coffee for the person behind you in a coffee line, etc. She took up this practice and thought "why just 26 days?" Why not continue that practice daily to bring more light and kindness into the world? She will continue that. It also makes her more alert to needs around her day to day and it is very simple.
I will follow her good example.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I so agree with the idea of being more alert and making this a daily practice... and I cringe every time I see the journalist in question on television. Her intentions were - are - so good, but why 26, indeed? 28 died. It may be a huge challenge to include Adam Lanza, but we are called to do so, not to mention his mother, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure (I've written this several times now) that I sound preachy, but my frequent cringing has me struggling with the number 26. Please forgive me if I sound offensive.
I don't think you sound preachy or offensive, Fran. You are sensitive to the value of human life. I don't think my friend means to exclude Adam and Nancy. I think 26 is the number that is going around. It stuck in people's consciousness and it is the number to which people relate. Sometimes we are the product of media marketing. I think she also realizes that she wants to be an agent of transformation and that her life is to be marked with good and kind deeds.
DeleteIn our prayers, we also prayed for the souls of the children, the teachers and administrators at the school, for Adam, and Nancy.
Thank you John. I didn't think your friend was excluding anyone intentionally... Just caught up in what is so oft repeated. As we all are!
DeletePeace and good, AMDG!
Yes, Fran, especially not this friend. She is very sensitive and compassionate towards these almost unimaginable situations. She has a heart of gold and a heart of God. It is odd how we, as a larger society, view difficult situations with inherent judgments. It is good that you keep the more difficult situation afloat. Thank you. Peace to you as well.
DeleteJohn, it is not uncommon for people to forget or just not to be aware that the perpetrator and family are also victims of the violence. I volunteer with a ministry for people touched by the justice system and I am able to see how fragile and needy the perpetrators are. Many of these people have such courage and deep faith. I feel very privileged to walk their journey with them. I don't mean that I condone the violence but I'm not there to judge and I try to see the people as Jesus sees them - we are all in need of Jesus the Christ.
ReplyDeleteRight. This is why it is good for you and others to be raising consciousness of the way people shape their worldviews. I have volunteered in prison ministry occasionally and these are really the poor in spirit who need the Gospel. It is a rich journey. It makes you realize the value of a life and how the choices we make can bind us or bring us to freedom. Years ago I worked with a brilliant sister chaplain who asked us to lead a group called "Growing into Freedom." It was wonderful for those whose civil freedoms are taken away, but can still grow in happiness and joy. Oh, and by the way, anyone can be imprisoned. Our notion of who is "bad" can be rehabilitated.
Delete