Running the Race

Everyday brings with it a new perspective.

It brings the perspective from which I see things....and it brings the perspective from which I view others.

Some days are filled with awe and wonder.  They are filled with joy at the kindness and generosity of mankind.

I hear news of something amazing that has occurred, and it restores my faith in humanity.

I wish I had more of those days.

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I have to be honest with you...I typically start my day with a routine that perhaps is one I should change.

While I ponder whether or not to drag my butt out of bed, I usually grab my phone, and peruse Facebook.

I figure this allows me to stay in bed a little longer, I can catch up on the events of the past 8-10 hours, and maybe I will be more inspired to actually get up and do something after my "morning check-in."

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Yesterday, one of the big stories was about that horrific 26 vehicle pile-up on I-84 near Baker City, OR on Sunday. (There were several that day, actually.)

The one I'm referring to is the unbelievable story about the man who wound up completely smashed in between two semi trucks...yet walked away with only scratches.

This picture is unbelievable.

The only piece of truck that was left intact was where he was sitting.

How anyone survived this....it's just miraculous.

The reason I am writing about this is not because it's unbelievable (which it is!)

I'm writing about it because of the comments I read about it.

KNDU-TV posted the story on Facebook.

Now, one would think that people would have just clicked "like" and moved on.

Well....40,078 people did that.

But there are SOOOO many comments as well.

One that I found rather funny was:

"Looks like Chevy just found their new ad campaign."

But then it went downhill.

A woman posted:

I just showed this picture to my 8 year old.  He immediately said "God saved his life."

1,911 people liked that comment.

 But a whole LOT of people didn't.

And it began.  That stupid, horrible thing that people do.

Here are some of their comments to her post:

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*Congrats on brainwashing a child.

*And when someone dies, does your son also say "God killed him."

*Did you show him pics of the dead people? Why would you ruin such a young person with that "god talk??"

*Awww, brainwashing children.  How adorable.

*It was either God or Santa.  Guess we will never know?

*Ugh. I hate it when people teach their child stupidity.

*Your child should write a fake heaven story like the other fakes.

*Wow...must mean it's true if your 8 year old said it...

Now...people can believe whatever they want.  I personally have to believe that it was more than luck, and more than good "car engineering" that saved this man.  I really believe there was a higher power at work, and it wasn't his time to go.  

What I don't understand is how people who believe differently feel the need to be so nasty in how they express themselves.

Had things been coming from the other side....for instance, if the mother had said "My 8 year old son said "That must be the luckiest man alive!"

I certainly don't think there would have been an onslaught of Christians attacking her and her son for not claiming that it was God who saved this man.

Of course, I could be wrong....but I really don't see it happening.

~

This is what I don't understand about humans.

Why are we so damn sure we know everything?

It seems to me that if we would let go of the need to control everything, and let go of the belief that we know everything, this world would be a lot less ugly.

When I think about religion, I wonder....what do we REALLY know?

We "know" what we read in the bible.

However....what we read and how we interpret it is going to be different from one person to the next.

Also....religion revolves around a man we have never seen, never heard, never touched, never met.

We put our faith in hope that what we are being told is accurate and true.

We are just mere humans.  What do we really know?

And the pastors and priests and religious leaders that are educating us....they are teaching us what they have learned...they are passing their knowledge on to us.

And, for some reason....we start to believe that we know everything.  And what we know is right.  And if it is different than the person next to us, well obviously they are wrong.

We close our ears and open our mouths, when it is the opposite that we really should be doing.

And, if we REALLY want to move forward as a united front, and stop this ridiculous cycle, we need to close our mouths 

and open our HEARTS.

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After getting myself all good and worked up over all of this...I decided to unwind in the bathtub.

I always listen to NPR when I'm getting ready.

I find classical music and bubble baths are an excellent combination.

I had timed things just right (unintentionally) so that my tub time coordinated with the Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute that was taking place in Milwaukee.

There were musical performances and speeches.

And then, an 8 year old boy (not sure what the deal is with 8 year old boys today)

got up to read the "I Have A Dream" speech.

I have, of course, heard this speech many times.

But for some reason, this time it stabbed me right in the heart.

I sobbed through the whole thing.

Why on earth are we still fighting for that dream to come true?

Yes...progress has been made.

Thank God.

But, there are still so many minds out there that remain closed.

So many people who refuse to open their eyes to the fact that it is not a person's skin color, their religion, their nationality that continues tear the human race apart.

But instead, it is limiting beliefs, it is the refusal to admit that we don't know it all, it is believing that there is only one way for things to be done, one color that is superior, one gender that can rise to the top.

It is closing our eyes, our ears, our minds and our hearts....and teaching our children to do the same.

It is choosing to only associate with people who hold the same close minded belief system that we do.

How different the world would be, if everyone would just open their minds and their hearts.  If everyone would learn to accept each other simply as a member of the human race.

If every person was treated with kindness and respect, and every person had equal rights....regardless of any aspect that may make them "different" in the eyes of what society has labeled the "norm."

If money stopped being a conduit of greed and power, and instead was used toward creating a society that offered a level playing field to everyone.  A way for the poverty stricken and homeless to get back on their feet.  A way for everyone to succeed.  A way for those who have been treated unfairly because of their gender or color or sexual identity to receive equal opportunities.

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I just find it so appalling that there is this small pocket of uber rich, and an overwhelming surplus of people who are not even able to get by, even though they are working 2-3 jobs.

Obviously, we have one messed up system here.

I guess what I really wish was that I was either really brilliant, and could run for office and do something about it....or, that someone who IS really brilliant WILL run for office, and will start to make some positive changes.

~

So, for now....I will continue to just try to stand up for what I believe in, stop any hateful/hurtful behavior that I witness, spread kindness, and keep on hoping and praying that someday, the human race will finally get their shit together, realize that we really have no clue what we are talking about, and proceed with grace, dignity, compassion, and honor......and finally unite.

Because, after all, we are all from the same race....the human race.

I think whoever it was, that first suggested otherwise, was a fool.

xo