sad world

the world makes me sad, or better to day, I get sad thinking about the world. At times there seems to be more people harming others than those actually helping others. Governments that gas their people, the rich that are out to get richer, the poor that steal to get richer, those that sexually or physically abuse others, the list is endless of the harmful people in the world. Yet those that try to help others are on the short list – Firemen, some police men/woman, nurses, doctors, therapists, the ones on the front lines of life- those trying to prevent or heal the wounds. They are the ones with little material pay, heart burn, and nightmares. Yesterday there was a 30 something Hispanic female in my office talking about how the inner church program she had been in was the most critical and judgemental group she had ever run into. they reportedly blamed her for not coming to church and blamed her when she did come. She said the church didn’t have a childcare option so if she came she had to bring her autistic child with her. And that never worked as he could not sit quietly in the sermon. The preacher and staffers called her names no matter what. Yet this young woman forgave them. She also forgave the people who abused her as a child and a young adult. " The memories kept repeating and repeating. I had a choice I could stay stuck in the past, or move forward. So I asked God to help me live an abundant life and to take the memories away." She was the better Christian. She still has times when she asks God to help her take memories away, but she forgives those that harmed her. I am amazed at some of the stories I get from folks that come in for "counseling." IT is their stories that keep give proof the human spirit. their stories that keep overcoming the sadness in the world. Hope. that’s the word. There are still some that try to make it a better place. It lifts my day to recall this, and give me strength to go to work each day to help one more, as they help me.