It is easy to become caught up in thinking that everything in the world is getting worse, but there are situations which are actually getting better. My daughter shared the following with me recently, and I feel compelled to pass it along. This is excerpted from the revised and expanded edition of "Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia" by Rob Brezsny.
"In 2005, the Human Security Report presented detailed proof that the world has become dramatically more peaceful since the end of the Cold War. It said that the number of violent conflicts has declined by 40 percent, while acts of genocide have dropped by 80 percent. Weapons sales between countries have diminished 33 percent during the same time, and the number of refugees has fallen by 45 percent. Meanwhile, coups d'etat have decreased 60 percent since 1963, and the number of soldiers killed in battle has declined from an average of 38,000 per war in 1950 to 600 in 2002. . . .
"One of the primary causes of the plunge in violence, according to the Human Security Report, is the unprecedented upsurge of international peace activism, much of it spearheaded by the United Nations. Other factors it cites include the acceleration of democratization and the steep downswing of global poverty.
"The main study was released in 2005, with updates issued in 2007 and 2008. Among the most recent findings: Deaths caused by terrorism have decreased 40 percent; support for al-Qaeda in the Arab world has diminished precipitously; and the number of wars in sub-Saharan Africa was cut in half between 1999 and 2006, while fatalities from those conflicts dropped 98 percent."
It is important to concentrate on the good in the world, rather than making ourselves upset by thinking about evil. And I love to consider the idea of pronoia, thinking that the universe is out to help us. It's much better for our health, if nothing else, than stressing out about everything that "might" go wrong.
Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9, ". . . whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and see in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Let us find peace by dwelling on peace and continuing to promote peace everywhere. There's a lot of good news out there -- we usually don't even have to look too far to find it.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Bucket Update
Here's an update on my bucket filler/dipper blog from several weeks ago. It's a great story, and I offer a salute to fine teachers everywhere!
In the original post on January 14, I told how my grandson had come home from school saying that some people are bucket-dippers, and some are bucket-fillers. His teacher had said when someone says or does mean things, they're a bucket-dipper; they're trying to empty someone else's bucket so they can fill up their own. But they can't fill up their own bucket that way; it just makes their bucket empty. When someone is a bucket-filler, they do nice things. They try to fill up other people's buckets, but they're really filling up their own bucket, too. Being nice is the way to fill up your bucket.
His teacher is Mrs. Angela Jackson who teaches first grade at Glenwood Elementary School. My grandson continues to talk about "bucket filling," so I asked Mrs. Jackson what she's doing in her classroom, and she gave me the following update:
"We talk quite often about being a 'bucket-filler' or a 'bucket-dipper.' I know some things do not need extrinsic rewards but I decided to reward this behavior in hopes that the students will continue praising each other, helping each other and respecting each other. I have a 'bucket' and 'bucket-filler' tickets. if 'Joe' is reading and 'Sam' tells him 'Good job,' then Joe can get a bucket-filler ticket and write down, 'Sam told me I did a good job reading.' Then Joe places it in the bucket, and on Friday I draw one ticket out and read the winning ticket to the class. Then, both students get a prize, Sam for being a bucket-filler and Joe for filling out the bucket-filler ticket because, in essence, Joe filled Sam's bucket by nominating him.
"I have had some students fill out lots of tickets just hoping they will get a prize, but I can tell which ones are sincere and which ones aren't. It has definitely made a difference in my classroom. In case your readers want to know, the book is called 'Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids' by Carol McCloud."
Even though our system of education definitely needs fixing, whatever problems there are, the problems have not been created by the many wonderful teachers doing an excellent job every day in classrooms all around the country. Teacher's Appreciation Week is May 3-7, but you don't have to wait until then to tell a teacher how grateful you are for all they do. Thanks Mrs. Jackson!
In the original post on January 14, I told how my grandson had come home from school saying that some people are bucket-dippers, and some are bucket-fillers. His teacher had said when someone says or does mean things, they're a bucket-dipper; they're trying to empty someone else's bucket so they can fill up their own. But they can't fill up their own bucket that way; it just makes their bucket empty. When someone is a bucket-filler, they do nice things. They try to fill up other people's buckets, but they're really filling up their own bucket, too. Being nice is the way to fill up your bucket.
His teacher is Mrs. Angela Jackson who teaches first grade at Glenwood Elementary School. My grandson continues to talk about "bucket filling," so I asked Mrs. Jackson what she's doing in her classroom, and she gave me the following update:
"We talk quite often about being a 'bucket-filler' or a 'bucket-dipper.' I know some things do not need extrinsic rewards but I decided to reward this behavior in hopes that the students will continue praising each other, helping each other and respecting each other. I have a 'bucket' and 'bucket-filler' tickets. if 'Joe' is reading and 'Sam' tells him 'Good job,' then Joe can get a bucket-filler ticket and write down, 'Sam told me I did a good job reading.' Then Joe places it in the bucket, and on Friday I draw one ticket out and read the winning ticket to the class. Then, both students get a prize, Sam for being a bucket-filler and Joe for filling out the bucket-filler ticket because, in essence, Joe filled Sam's bucket by nominating him.
"I have had some students fill out lots of tickets just hoping they will get a prize, but I can tell which ones are sincere and which ones aren't. It has definitely made a difference in my classroom. In case your readers want to know, the book is called 'Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids' by Carol McCloud."
Even though our system of education definitely needs fixing, whatever problems there are, the problems have not been created by the many wonderful teachers doing an excellent job every day in classrooms all around the country. Teacher's Appreciation Week is May 3-7, but you don't have to wait until then to tell a teacher how grateful you are for all they do. Thanks Mrs. Jackson!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Mistaken for Jesus
My friend Terry Jackson recently shared a story with me, and, as I had a really busy week at work, I have asked her if I could share it on my blog. It is from an unattributed source and edited slightly for length and content.
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives they would be home for dinner on Friday night. But they were cutting it close on time, and in their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding.
All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He waved good-bye to his buddies and called his wife to explain why he was taking a later flight. Then he returned to where the apples were all over the floor. He was glad he did. The young girl was blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, as she helplessly groped for her spilled produce. The crowd swirled about her, no one stopping to help.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside. When he had finished, he pulled out forty dollars and said to the girl, "Here, please take this for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He added, "I hope we didn't spoil your day."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered girl called out to him, "Mister." He paused and turned to look back. She continued, "Are you Jesus?" He stopped in mid-stride, before saying, "no" and slowly making his way to catch the later flight. The question burned and bounced about in his soul. Do people mistake us for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference between him and his followers as they live and interact with a desperate world that is, like the apples, battered and bruised, and often, like the blind girl run over in the rush of everyday tasks, unable to see to his love, life and grace unless we show them.
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives they would be home for dinner on Friday night. But they were cutting it close on time, and in their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding.
All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He waved good-bye to his buddies and called his wife to explain why he was taking a later flight. Then he returned to where the apples were all over the floor. He was glad he did. The young girl was blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, as she helplessly groped for her spilled produce. The crowd swirled about her, no one stopping to help.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside. When he had finished, he pulled out forty dollars and said to the girl, "Here, please take this for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He added, "I hope we didn't spoil your day."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered girl called out to him, "Mister." He paused and turned to look back. She continued, "Are you Jesus?" He stopped in mid-stride, before saying, "no" and slowly making his way to catch the later flight. The question burned and bounced about in his soul. Do people mistake us for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference between him and his followers as they live and interact with a desperate world that is, like the apples, battered and bruised, and often, like the blind girl run over in the rush of everyday tasks, unable to see to his love, life and grace unless we show them.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A Prayer for Easter
The Book of John conveys so beautifully the divine nature of Jesus. It tells believers how we are to live in relationship with Jesus and how we are to demonstrate to others the love he gives us. It is full of challenges and promises, and it shows how the world could be transformed, not by what we do, but by what we believe. It contains what are perhaps my favorite verses in all of scripture, John 6:28-29. ". . .What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered . . . 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'"
Simple. Uncomplicated. We're not asked to jump through hoops or be argumentative. We are asked to believe in Jesus, in who he is and in what he says. If I were to choose my favorite book of the Bible, John would be it, even though it is heart-breaking for me to read, especially the last few chapters, which tell of Jesus as he is living his last few days on earth. He has poured out his heart and soul to revolutionize and change the world, and it seems that even his closest friends and followers do not understand him. The prayer he prays in chapter 17 is, I believe, as close as we can get to a summary of his mission.
I recommend during this time of year when we celebrate the life of Jesus that everyone read John 17. It speaks of knowing God and glorifying him. It tells of the joy we are to have and of sanctification and truth. It conveys wonderful words of love, and it calls believers to unity. Jesus prays, in verse 23, ". . . that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved me."
My prayer for Easter is that believers will put aside petty differences and concentrate on what we have in common. That the word-wrangling and sniping would stop, and we would find common ground with our brothers and sisters, so the world can see what love is. That we would seek not what divides but that which unites. Many will say the divisions are too deep, and I am naive to think unity is possible. But I will accept any label you want to pin on me, because my prayer is the same prayer Jesus prayed. Let's be the answer to his prayer this Easter.
Simple. Uncomplicated. We're not asked to jump through hoops or be argumentative. We are asked to believe in Jesus, in who he is and in what he says. If I were to choose my favorite book of the Bible, John would be it, even though it is heart-breaking for me to read, especially the last few chapters, which tell of Jesus as he is living his last few days on earth. He has poured out his heart and soul to revolutionize and change the world, and it seems that even his closest friends and followers do not understand him. The prayer he prays in chapter 17 is, I believe, as close as we can get to a summary of his mission.
I recommend during this time of year when we celebrate the life of Jesus that everyone read John 17. It speaks of knowing God and glorifying him. It tells of the joy we are to have and of sanctification and truth. It conveys wonderful words of love, and it calls believers to unity. Jesus prays, in verse 23, ". . . that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved me."
My prayer for Easter is that believers will put aside petty differences and concentrate on what we have in common. That the word-wrangling and sniping would stop, and we would find common ground with our brothers and sisters, so the world can see what love is. That we would seek not what divides but that which unites. Many will say the divisions are too deep, and I am naive to think unity is possible. But I will accept any label you want to pin on me, because my prayer is the same prayer Jesus prayed. Let's be the answer to his prayer this Easter.
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