Gloom and doom
I was talking to a friend who lives in a large city clear across the nation and she shared with me how she had become truly afraid of venturing out particularly by herself or even with her children. She felt that the ordinary way of life that she had grown up with had largely disappeared.
We proceeded to go through a laundry list of everything bad that is going on in the world, in our nation, in the morality of the nation and the future of our children. We were fairly depressed by the time we had taken the world apart.
Any room for Optimism
Finally, she said, “well, you are always the optimist and you don’t sound too optimistic to me!” I laughed and said, “I am still very optimistic but not in the way that one would expect. I think it is important to watch the horizon and see the storm approaching and prepare for it. We are approaching a storm and I believe it will change our lives, but it does not necessarily have to change our hearts.”
“Well, that is an interesting thought, but how do you keep your heart positive?” she asked.
“I think it has to do with who you are and what your foundation is built on. To me, in my heart I have a foundation of rules I try to live by, albeit with lots of mistakes. I truly believe that no matter what the circumstances we are in, we are still able to do good and be good. If I can keep that in mind, then whatever comes, comes. “
Stay on for the Ride
Looking back on that conversation, I do feel that we are facing a tougher ride in life. We are going to hear more depressing or fearful news. More events are going to happen. In every life hard things happen. It is during the hard times that we have to learn to stay on for the ride.
Many years ago I had a friend who was trying to teach me how to ride a horse when she and her family were out moving cows on the range. First of all, horses and I don’t like each other. It is very mutual. I like things that start and stop with a key and a brake. This horse knew immediately that I knew nothing about horses or how to ride and started to side step and hop around, of course terrifying me.
It was a bad moment all around because the cows had smelled the water ahead and they were on the move. My horse wanted to be part of the action and he wanted me off as badly as I wanted to be off. I yelled to my friend, “Hey, get me off the horse!” She yelled back, “I can’t right now, so stay on for the ride!”
What a thing to say. Neither the horse nor I liked it very much. I decided at that moment though that I wasn’t going to be smashed into the side of the tree by this horse, so I had better take charge. In other words, I stayed on for the ride. I did, and it wasn’t pleasant, but both the horse and I lived through it.
My father told me that during World War II, it was about trying to stay alive, but doing it in a way that would still keep him in line with his conscience. He said that he noticed that people would either give into the horrors of war or they would stand up in the midst of them and still be honorable.
I think that is where we are. We will all face those “bronco” days. Getting off isn’t an option. Staying on is essential, and staying with honor is the most important. So, when those bad days come, and they will either individually or possibly collectively, stay on for the ride. Do the best you can with the situation that you are in and above all try to always do good and be good.
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