By Kay Clark, PCLC, MMC
Has the whole world gone mad? Never in my lifetime have I seen such chaos. One would think, especially in the United States of America, after two plus years with one million lives lost to a pandemic, that we as a nation would cleave to love and compassion. Every airwave is filled with devastation. It’s better to sit in silence; a silence necessary to reclaim equilibrium.
Yet here we are with hate at an all time high. Young men continue to be shot down in the streets by those sworn to protect and serve for no reason other than living while Black. Worse yet are the untimely deaths at the hands of those who are our mirror reflections. Generations evaporated in the morning of life. Over and over are children cut down before their beautiful buds can even begin to bloom. Parental sobs so echoed as to be heard around the world. Elders doing good in their communities creating legacies and are beacons of strength and resilience we all can look to for direction. Drive-by’s are destroying innocence in its wake. Conspiracies and lies continue from those duly elected to represent the people. I’m reminded of a warning in song from long ago called “Smiling Faces Sometimes” on the Sky’s the Limit album by the Temptations. Wars, famine, authoritarianism are on the rise, in addition to global warming, and a host of other negative worldly proclivities. Some have become so desensitized to the noise of nonsensical behaviors that calamity is the norm rather than the rule. Small uprisings are tamped down by the almighty dollar; so much so that ‘we the people’ are expected to disbelieve our eyes as if under a spell!
Yet, LIFE always finds a way. Fauna and flora alike reproduce beauty on the daily; seemingly unstoppable in the reverence of just being all they were created to be. Gentle rains continue to provide refreshing for a thirsty world. Babies are born. True believers always praying for our good. One of my beliefs is that every good thing is not necessarily for us individually. And every bad thing is not necessarily meant for deliberate harm. How else can hope traverse through these treacherous times? Having hope is a must if we are to leave this world better than when we arrived. Hope keeps believers with hands clasps and ashy knees interceding on our behalf for a better day. Declaring and decreeing words of loving encouragement as found in the Book of Psalms.
Psalm 23
King James Version
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Yes, there are still green pastures to lie in and still waters to observe as they stream through our lives with peaceful intention. Words of love breathe into each of us the breath of life daily. Love shields us as we move through the depths of chaos. Love that trusts our God is still calling the shots (no pun intended). Love that awakens us every morning to feed us a sumptuous feast. Love that wants for nothing; knowing through it all, LIFE will find a way to demonstrate a love that never fails.
So, I just dropped by to encourage all of us to live life full out. With all its nuances live life in exhortation! Live life to make a difference. Live life in happy expectation that the best is yet to come.
