Don't Lose Faith
I love reading stories on social media about the kind deeds people do, particularly for the less fortunate and animals. I love seeing the messages of support and compassion for those hurt and killed due to horrific acts of violence. But these postings are often accompanied by comments indicating these acts have caused us to question our “faith in humanity”.
“What's this world coming to?” How many of you have read or heard that phrase after a tragedy? Sometimes I'm guilty of this thinking as well.
What we well-meaning posters don't realize is that to lose faith in humanity is to lose faith in ourselves.
The world is full of kind and generous people; we can't stop believing this. Yes, a majority of news stories reported daily involves crimes committed against innocent people, who resemble persons we love and hold dear.
We watch the news to stay informed only to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of violent incidents, disgusting political rhetoric, sexist and racist behaviors purported by the media. What we need to realize is this; yes bad things occur, but if we stop viewing others from a place of love, we are hardening our hearts which causes us to be stunned by acts of kindness.
Kindness isn't random
The person who gives the shirt off his back or the last dollar in her wallet clearly hasn't lost faith in humanity, so why have you? Life can be rough and challenging, causing us to question our beliefs. And that is okay! Your belief system should change and evolve as you get older, have new experiences and meet new people.
I too feel discouraged when sick people ruin the lives of others, but I can't wallow in this feeling. I have a daughter and I need her to see the world through an optimistic yet realistic lens.
If she thinks all people are mean and evil, how will she function in her adult life? She and other children need to grow up believing there's good in others or there will be no future worth saving.
The tragedies that occurred in Orlando, the Christina Grimmie and Pulse nightclub shooting, left a big gaping hole in my heart. Friday night after enjoying the Selena Gomez concert at the Amway Center, my daughter and I fell in love with downtown Orlando. She even asked me if we could move there. It's a beautiful and vibrant city. While walking downtown from the concert to our hotel, I felt like I had been transported back to NY.
The events of this weekend are sad and heartbreakingly tragic but let's not allow the pain and loss to harden our hearts. As Martin Luther King, Jr. eloquently stated, "darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that".
Don't lose faith!
Cover image from Death to Stock Photo
