Explosion

Explosion

Explosions.  They can be good, as in an explosion of ideas. An explosion of favor and abundance.  But they can also be bad.  As in a bomb, a car accident or a nuclear plant meltdown

We are leery of explosions.  Good and bad.  Too much too soon. Explosions move us and shake us to our core.  They awaken us from malaise and they ignite action.

Looking at our very broken America, I cannot help but wonder if an explosion isn't exactly what we need.  On 9/11/01 an explosion shook America and then the world.  Buildings fell, lives were lost and fear became a reality for some of us for the first time.  But what else happened?  We united as a Nation, as a people. Flags flew from tall buildings, short buildings, private homes and the back of pick-up trucks. We looked up from our phones, our laptops, our video games, music and TVs.  The sleeping giant that was once the greatest country in the world woke up.

I remember telling my husband I hoped it would take at least a week before everyone went into their ‘device comas’ again.  That’s about what it took.  A week.  Maybe two.  But we were lulled back into mindless slumber long before all the bodies were pulled from the World Trade Center.

That was a bad explosion.  Today, our Nation is divided, angry, bitter, hating and deeply depressed.  We were locked in our homes more than two years.  Fear was dished out in big spoonfuls with every newscast we heard.  Vaccinations.  War in the Ukraine.  Monkey pox. Vaccination poisoning.  Abortion bans, enflamed by a fear women would be forced to have unwanted children. No one agreed on anything.  Families are divided.  Marriages are broken.  Friends block each other on social media.

We need an explosion of love!  We need to understand we’re a creative and problem solving people.  Let’s embrace each other and accept the wisdom that says we all come from different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs.  But just because we believe something does not mean everyone else has to think the same thoughts.  Or violence breaks out.

I loved old America with its freedom of speech and the philosophy we should live and let live.  I understand that old America didn’t work equally for all people.  Some felt left out and smarted from unfairness.  They were most likely correct.  For them.  So we changed things.  We agreed some things were unfair.  Even heartless.  For me, it was off my radar and I required an explosion of rebellion in order to see.  But I see it now!

So let’s fix it.  We don’t need to hate each other.  Progress should be founded on agreement, understanding and empathy.  How angry do you have to be to shoot five-year-olds in their beds and car seats because you don’t like the color of someone’s shirt?  How broken is your heart if you’re willing to assassinate nineteen children in a classroom?  We need an explosion of dialogue.  We need to talk it out.  In a big room.  With everyone listening. I want to hear about the pain.  I want to talk about my fear.

This moment in time is where humanity wins or loses.  Let’s opt for an explosion of caring and wanting to help each other survive. Let’s lay down our egos, love others more than ourselves and find healing and caring solutions.  

Pick up a Bible. It's filled with wisdom and hope. Stop calling people names because they go to church. Find out what they believe. So far, all we've managed to do is change who it is we hate.