Philippians 4: 8 (NIV)
” Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
I don’t know about you, but the negativity and vitriol of current public discourse is pretty discouraging. The animosity and anger, the denigration of others who think differently than we do, the shaming and dismissal of any thought that differs from our own seems so prevalent and pervasive.
Call me crazy, but it seems to me that we used to be able to have differences of opinion. We used to have more than one side to a conversation. We were able to have a different approach to work, to daily living, to politics. Maybe you didn’t agree with me, but you didn’t pull out a gun and shoot me. Or run across the street to physically attack me or try to harm me. You didn’t take to the public airwaves to totally squash the life out of me and drain me of the ability to have an independent thought or speak my own word of truth.
The animosity of the times has caused me to re-route my energies. To look for beauty and truth in new/old places. To avoid the anger and violence, I have taken my phone and gone out into nature to look for beauty and peace.
In the massing together of hundreds and thousands of Sandhill Cranes–trumpeting and “talking” as they fly and look for food; in the beautiful butterfly landing on a flower and brightening up my day; in the uplifting music experience where God’s praise is brought back to my mind. In family who love me, even if I am a “liberal” or a “radical.” In the seemingly endless driving looking and hoping to see a rare Whooping Crane hanging out with the hordes of Sandhills.
Not everything in life has gone my way the past few years. Some of the things that have happened have been demoralizing and depressing. I have lost friends and sometimes lost my “place” in my world. But God is faithful. God still has beauty and satisfaction and peace available to me if I can manage to mute the negative–sometimes evil–noise of this world and look to what is life-giving and hope-filled.
This blog is intended to point to what is good and life-affirming and hopeful. We welcome your feedback and insights. It may not change our minds, but you may challenge us to think more deeply or reflect more consciously about something. And maybe we will help you be reminded that there is still goodness, and God is still all around us inviting us to see what is beautiful and holy.
Colleen Malone
Thoughts From the Garden 