Jan 1 2013
ANOTHER CYCLE AROUND THE SUN
Every year starts so new, innocent in its infancy. Hope is re-imagined and burns a fresh. Eyes squinting and set on brighter horizons, we step foot, boldly, on our next journey around the sun. But like a child, the year must grow. Through happiness and hardships, lessons are learned. In January of 2012, we could not foresee those bright moments, or the darker ones ahead. We knew that evil lurked around corners, but could not imagine the form it would take, or just how treacherous those moors and cliffs could be. Whether it be in naivety, or a conscious choice, we ignored the softly whispered warnings, and signs were left unread. We pushed through at a constant cadence, fists clenched, survival mode.
Had we slowed down, quieted our own thoughts long enough, we may have seen the pain and fear around us. We may have heard our intuition, softly breathing beneath our screaming instincts, and seen when someone was slipping. Had we reached out our hand in assistance, in love, what could we have accomplished? What could we have avoided?
The tragedies of 2012 are, and should continue to be mourned. In this new year, we can choose to move on and forget; or we can refuse to let it all be in vain. Respectfully remember, and turn these horrific incidents into an opportunity to accept the sorrow and loss, and rise. For it is only in the smoke and rubble of death and destruction that we are able to rebuild on a new, stronger foundation. Our sleeping hearts are awakened, and we synthesize the poisonous effects of evil into good; into love. Something the citizens of this country have already proven throughout history to be exceptional at.
In the past few months, we have been given the bitter-sweet gift of awareness. Our eyes have been ripped open, and we are all left clinging to our children and our loved ones. What we do with this gift from this very second on, is up to us. We can put armed guards in schools, we can argue about gun rights in forums and sign petitions. All of which may be good and right. But what if instead of pointing fingers and spreading paranoia, we rip the evil from our communities by its roots. We re-mold it at the source. The source is not violence in the media, it’s not guns, and it’s not rap music. If this were the case, virtually every child growing up in the US would be a violent criminal. It starts with someone feeling alone and desperate running on an empty heart. Someone starting to slip and fall down the path of life.
Whether we like it or not, as a human race, we are all in this journey together. Wandering through time, fighting to survive another day. Lets all slow down and not just look, but actually see. Instead of seeking endlessly for love, lets redirect that energy to selflessly giving it. Reaching our hands out to catch each other, and moving forward… as one.
© Packing Pretty, Grace McKee 2013.
Jan 01, 2013 @ 20:19:51
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Gracie.
It seems in our hurt we get defensive and point fingers away from ourselves. We seek a reason, a cause, for all the pain when it’s not so simple. If we stop and examine ourselves as individuals, as families and as a nation we can see…really see, the depth of it all. United we stand. Let us not, in fear, become divided and easily picked apart. Our nation has drifted far away from the values and principals of our forefathers. How sad they must be. Let’s work together to make this nation great once again; to express love to those who haven’t earned it and to keep an eye, an ear and a shoulder ready for those who are slipping away from us and shepherd them back before its too late.
Jan 01, 2013 @ 22:51:51
Gracie,
I agree, we must look at the real reasons, it seems people in both camps want to just blame the other side. The whole hurray for our side, your side sucks , I’m always right, your always wrong way of thinking and ignore that there maybe another way or reason. I think we do need to look at the root of the reason, not just the tools or the preventive measures. It is not going to be easy, many times when we look in to things and do a true unbiased investigation, we may not like all the facts. I do think society might be partially to blame for what happened. Do I think all kids that have bad parents will grow up to be like these pieces of crap, no. Could we have prevented this by being better neighbors , friends and humans? We will never know.
What I am sure of is that our rights will be under attack, scapegoats will be used and paraded through the town square. Money will be made, fake tears will shed on TV, prices will soar, politicians will hold out their hands for more donations, backs will be pat for “a good job”or ” Your tried your best” and in the end the real root will be ignored.
The best we can do is do our part, stay informed and try to be good people.
Jan 02, 2013 @ 06:09:25
As I read this I thought, “wow this guy is writing EXACTLY what my thoughts are on our Country and community” And then I saw that you wrote it! hahahaha this is a great one Grace, you really nailed it head on! What a wonderful peice of work!
Jan 02, 2013 @ 08:22:44
Good words, and while they were very eloquently spoken, living up to them is entirely another thing. People need to actually learn to change their hearts, live up to their commitments and become people of integrity. Self-pity, selfishness, bitterness, resentment, and lack of accountability are the causes of these events as well as far too many broken families. Until people learn to realize the impact they have on others and take responsibility for their own choices, not because they may want to, but because it is the right thing to do, then nothing will change. Unfortunately, it is much easier to make excuses in order to justify doing the wrong thing and far too many people fall into this trap.
The media coverage seems to be focused on finding excuses for someone’s actions rather than focusing on the fact that they simply chose it, as if the reasoning behind it somehow changes the outcome. Bottom line is that evil is still evil regardless of whatever excuses the person may have had for choosing it.