You gotta have faith…

I’ll give myself credit, something I don’t do very often.  Looking back over my adult life, I’ve rarely held my tongue, or more recently, my keyboard, over the possibility something I say or write might be offensive to someone, or worse, hurtful.  Let me add that those words or actions were never proceeded by intention.

I made a commitment, to myself, when I started this blog, that I would keep it light, focusing on humor, and hopefully a way to bring a little of that into anyone’s life who chose to follow it.  To avoid the world of politics, religion and the like.  It’s not easy, but you only need click on the TV or the computer or hopefully you still pick up a newspaper and there is plenty of that toxicity there for you to breathe in.  Me, I’m choosing to breathe clean air for now.

To date, I think the things I have written about have nothing to do with those time bomb subjects.  True, the world is raging around us.  Sometimes I feel cheap not speaking out.  But there are other forums for that, right?  Like my tee shirts and bumper stickers.

Okay, I’m not speaking specifically about me now, but isn’t it tragic that people on opposite sides of real issues can’t sit down and speak anymore?  It’s probably because the middle ground in this country, once as wide as the mid-western plains, has shrunk to a space about the size of my backyard.

Sure, we speak with passion to those who share our views.  But we hardly ever reach those who don’t.  Rich or poor.  Right or left.  Male and Female.  White or black.  God or no god.  How can we ever find real answers when the parties involved feel there is no reasons to search for them?  Like they already have all of the answers they need.

I haven’t even discussed a single issue here and yet I’m sure there’s at least one person reading I’ve offended, (if not, maybe, at least one person who is reading?)

Last year I was convinced it was just a matter of time before I left this country.  I wanted to.  Like I’m in the 12 steps a big part of me still wants to.  Every day.  “Go ahead, you don’t like this country, git out!”  You can hear the echo without the actual words.  It’s thoughts like that that cement our future and limits our evolution as a species.  You don’t like things the way they are?  Don’t fix them, leave!  Those words are rarely spoken by people who have much at all.  So they cling to the only thing they have, their patriotism.  Wrap yourself in the flag.  I’d rather see you wrapped in a nice warm winter coat my dear.

I sincerely hope one day I feel differently.  I want to feel something other that what I feel most days.  As I’ve mentioned before I’m a lucky guy and I have a lot to live for HERE.

I’m not ashamed to admit that a large part of my spirit has been crushed.  And I don’t believe it has anything to do with growing older.  In fact, I would not want to be in my 20’s or 30’s in this country today.  I would never trade wisdom for youth.  Our kids, I have no idea how they will do it, what they will cling to.

Next month will mark 20 years I have been with the woman I love, 16 of those years married.  Without her I would not have made it this far.  Far more than loving her I admire her as a person.  Then I see people like my daughter and her emergence as an activist, and it gives me hope.  Slivers, but something to hold on to.

“Don’t be such a pessimist”.  Yeah, that’s the answer.  I’ll start watching UP television and everything will be okay.  The people who watch the shows on that network do so because they WANT to feel better.  They NEED to feel better.  About something.  About anything.  I can empathize with them on that thought process.  But the day I start watching, “Bringing up Bates” just come up from behind me with a shovel and please, make it quick.

There re all kinds of faith.  Faith in a deity, in a creator, in a political party, in a way of life, in a name brand.  We drive over bridges every day having faith they won’t come down.  And then, one day, one does.  We have faith that a loved one will survive an illness.  Until they don’t.  Then, when these things happen, many people lose their faith, to the bottle, or drugs, or worse.  While others, their faith carries them through times like that.

Let’s try this on for size.  Let’s start having faith in one another, starting with the people who are most important in our lives.  Let’s forget about our leaders, our religious figures, our entertainers, even our football team, and have faith in one another.  Am I sounding like George Burns in, “Oh, God”.  Oh, god.

But before we even have faith in each other, let’s have faith in ourselves.  Like they say during airplane disasters, put your mask on first, then help the person next to you.  So, good idea.  Make sure your own house is in order before you start looking to others for answers.

So, contrary to public opinion, I DO have faith.  It just doesn’t fit into any specific category.  I realize that makes people who live inside of boxes squirm a bit.  Yo, those boxes are made of cardboard.  Very easy to get out of.  Or at least poke a few holes though.

I wish you the best version of your faith, whatever that is.