In this age of oversaturated words, they lose their meaning. Days like this make us FEEL “disturbing” and “outrage.” We spend way too much time on fake bulls*** that we call offensive. Violence is offensive, and seeing these videos of the WDBJ shooting shake my soul. This happens everyday, but now I see it first hand.
Societal change begins with personal change. If we want less violence in our world, we have to change the only person we can control: us. We have to approach others with less violence and less anger. It can’t be our first impulse (despite what our culture teaches us). It would be easiest to pass a law and hope that it changes the hearts of all, but that has clearly failed us.
I can only be a good example for those around me by treating others with respect, forgiveness, and love (actively seeking the welfare of another). Maybe if we all do this as often as possible, we will have less instances of trying to understand why a 24 and 27-year-old are dead. Or why a loved one is abused. Or why a relationship has fallen apart.
We are not guaranteed more time than this present moment, so there is no time to wait. The first step is to start with a phone call, visit, or text to the ones we love. Maybe even the ones we hate.
