Sunday, April 15, 2012

I've been thinking.......

(image via google)

Please, don't look so astonished!  Granted there was some smoke wafting out of my ears earlier from the hard work of my brain, but I do happen to get into a thinking mood every once in awhile.

For the record, I don't mean for this to be a downer post.  Far from it.  Instead, it's just thoughts.  I would like for my great-great-great-great granddaughter to some day know that her ancestor was more than a just a pretty face.  Or actually in my case, more than just a whacky, irreverent nut job.

Sooo......is it just me or does it seem like there is more than the usual chaos in the world?  It seems that no matter what news channel I turn on, I am lambasted by reports of terrible things across the globe.  Wars, natural disasters, unrest in governments, death, abuse, disease and poverty.

Yesterday I was talking with a friend and we were discussing some of the trials and hard things that we knew personally of first hand.  It took both hands to count them.  Another occasion, I was discussing with another person the seemingly increased rate of cancer diagnosis within our own personal circles.  Again, both hands.  Today, I sat reflecting on the past 6 years and the heartaches that have been close to home, even in my own four walls. It took both hands and feet.

Is it just me, or is there a whole lot more sadness and tragedy going on?  Am I of the age now, that when I do chat with my friends, it's to discuss our health, political, and social issues instead of our parties and new clothes?  Have I gotten to the point in life that the view through my lens is much more somber and serious than that of 20 years ago?  I'm actually quite confused on the matter.  It feels like all around me, more and more friends/family have hard things thrown at them.  I wonder if they have been happening all along at the same rate and I just wasn't as acutely aware, or is this life just getting to be more challenging than it used to be.

So if it's me......why the change?  Why am I now more aware, more sensitive, more touched by my own and others trials?  Is it the maturity that comes with the added candles to the birthday cake? Or maybe perhaps since I am no longer in the midst of raising a family, I have more time to look out my own front windows and see the going's on of the world.   Makes sense.

But if it's not me.........what's happening?  Why the rapid increase in tumult and chaos?

Is it the fact that news travels around the world in a matter of seconds with a mouse and keyboard so it's smack in our faces or is it because really, truly there is a higher percentage of sorrowful events out there?
For those that are Christian and believe in a second coming of Jesus Christ one would answer that this is all part of the plan to usher Him in.  We could point to the bible and other revelations telling that these things would happen as it grew closer and closer for the time for Him to come again. One only has to read to book of Revelations in the New Testament to see the correlation.

As one who is a Christian it makes sense to me.  It gives an answer for the increase in the heartache all around us.  Doesn't make things easier, but it does create a sense of purpose behind it all.
For one who is not a Christian, I...uh....well - I guess I don't really know what to think except that the challenges can be used for us to become better people. More kind, more understanding and more accepting to and of each other.

Either way, it's a win right?

If it's me, well then sheesh - I must be growing up! Getting all soft and gooey, sensitive and more aware in my old age.

If it's not me, then dang!  We're kind of in a crisis mode eh friends?  Perhaps we need to step up the game and either prepare for Jesus Christ to come again, or become better people purely in the process of surviving trials.

I don't know.

I've just been thinking.........












11 comments:

Pedaling said...

people who think are interesting.

I think it's all of those things.
I think there is more chaos in the world, but we are far more aware of it because of the internet and other media sources. And I think maturity or age factors in as well.

As a Christian, I have found that by putting God as the center, above all else....above my husband, my children, work...above everything,
then so much more makes sense and I am far less confused or worried.

I agree in stepping up our game & focusing on what we need to do to be right before God.

As Elder Holland said as he closed his conference talk..."It's getting late."

karen said...

Yep, ditto. All of the above. More internet, more instant news. More evil, more right being wrong, and wrong being right. More chemicals in our food, less time to eat properly and take care of our bodies AND our minds. Louder voices tempting us to do harm to ourselves.
It's time we all take stock, step up to the plate, stand for the right. It's time to take a good look into our souls. And man, I hate doing that.

Jamie said...

I think you hit the nail on the head on all counts.

namaste said...

i agree, it's our age and changing times. and also, as you note, news traveling faster with our keyboards. a thoughtful post like this reminds me how alike we all really are. good stuff!

CB said...

Yep, Yep and Yep!
All of the above. I have thought about it too and have come to the same conclusions.
Sometimes it makes me just want to crawl in my bed and sleep it off...ya know

" Hit It......." said...

I agree with you. I feel like lately, life is so complicated. I find myself getting a little depressed as well regarding the cancer thing. I know of several people (i.e.young) who have gotten sick and/or passed away from the horrible disease.

I also like Sheila's comment. The older I get, the more I am turning to God for answers. Without a belief, what do any of us have?

wendy said...

That's a lot of thinking girl!!!
I think every one of those things you "suggested" are totally possible and realistic
From preparing for the Second Coming
to Us getting older and seeing it more
To having experienced some of those hardships/deaths ourselves, which makes us so accutely aware and sensitive
to the rapidity of the internet/newsworld

gosh, I don't know. But I have to agree, it certainly has seemed "heavy" this past year.
It has kind of worn me out.
So.....the question for me is....how to Rise Above it all.
I think I do know some of those answers, it's just finding a way for me to actually "do it".
xxxoooo

tammy said...

I've had a lot of those same thoughts lately. In fact, I had a dream that the second coming was happening last night. Very weird. But I know my parents and leaders when I was growing up said and thought the same thing. Maybe it's our age? But I agree, we should all be thinking about what's most important.

Mamafamilias said...

It ain't just you, babe.

The last few years (and especially this past year), have just about done me in.

I'm just thankful for the Knowledge. I don't know how I would survive without it.

And I. Love. Conference.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

So very true. Experiencing some of those things myself.
There are sad things and it is heartbreaking. I think we need to really gain more strength from sources that really matter.

Prayers for you and your friends.

alpinekleins said...

My family always gets get's that worried look when I say "I've been thinkin" . . . I have to agree with all of the above accounts, life is full of challenges in this day and age, I've never seen the young people have the type of struggles and decisions they face each day. We are the inbetweens, caring for the young, and caring for the parents and the many challenges they face. Not to mention all our friends, neighbors and the daily struggles of life.

I can see the sorting of the seed and chaff taking place . . . hopefully I can keep falling on the right side . . .

Good thinkin'!!

Kristin