Stirred, Not Shaken

I am aware that history repeats itself and that every generation has trying times, even catastrophic times, that seem to signify the “end of the world”, but the world still manages to go on. Ever moving, ever turning until I no longer even think about the end of the world anymore, but just view current conditions through the perspective of times of war and times of happiness and times of prosperity and times of worry and times of sickness and times of contentment. Nothing is static; one thing influences another, which then alters time and eventually, changes the stories we record in history books. Memories grow faulty, wisdom becomes hazy, and technology seems to scare us even more than it did the last time.

Circling, circling.

Impacting, growing, shifting, progressing, faltering, failing, trying again.

But even with this lens, where does this leave us? How do we respond in times of confusion, doubt, ignorance, and fear? In these times, I like to think of myself as stirred, not shaken.

Stirred to different prayers–to give up my preference of presidential candidate and instead simply pray for a kind, honest person to take office, to change my desire for helping refugees resettle in my state and start longing for them to be simply be allowed to safely enter my country, and to update my recruitment plan of convincing loved ones to join me at my university and instead hope for them to attend somewhere that preaches love and acceptance instead of violence and hate.

Stirred to action–to contact my leaders and express my thoughts, feelings, and desires for the future, to educate myself on complicated topics, and to advocate for peace with my friends, family, and social media.

Stirred to hope-to dream of better days, to usher in a new way of living, and to share a vision of life full of eternal beauty and everlasting love.

Rooted in love. Standing forever.