Changing What We Can
Innocent children die for the sake of a few greedy people in power—think Putin. Moms and dads lose their jobs, grow stressed, and their children suffer for the sake of millionaires—think Trump. Palestinian families are being destroyed for the sake of a few religious fundamentalists—think Hamas. The masses suffer for the sake of the elite. Men are forced to go to war; children grow up without fathers. We see these problems in the world and think, “If we were in power, we’d do better.” Yet we forget about our own families and coworkers. We’re harsh with them, holding feelings of hatred toward those closest to us. Meanwhile, we place the blame for evil and suffering “out there”—on Putin, on Israel or Palestine, on the liberals or on Trump. It makes us feel virtuous and keeps us from confronting the evil in our own hearts, from facing the suffering we cause to our neighbors, our families, and our coworkers. Someone once said, “People are hell,” and another replied, “No—hating people is hell.” This is so true. I think of myself and how easily I become bitter and resentful toward those around me this truly feels like hell. This isn’t about self-pity. It’s about looking at ourselves the only ones we can truly change and turning our attention to the real people in our lives: our neighbors, coworkers, and families. Not the virtual world or the news, which we can’t change.