Sunday Night Musings; August 4, 2019

I guess I hurt myself in life, so to speak, because I don't do things that bring attention to myself.

Honestly, I don't know that I really believe that - the "hurt myself" part, but it just seems where our culture is.

I use social media to report on things, give credit to others or to express gratitude for what opportunities I have, but never to draw attention to myself. 

However, I'm surrounded by hundreds of others who go, post "Look at me" constantly.

It's kind of heartbreaking because it is either a brag - designed to be in your face - or it reveals something missing inside of the person.

And just being good - as in a good guy - isn't good enough anymore. 

Everything has to be the best of the best.

I'm the embodiment of the phrase, "Nice guys finish last."

And on a day like today, when I picked up upon something after lunch with my daughter, its been pretty rough.

Granted, I understand that it is absolutely nothing compared to the 29 people who lost their lives in Ohio and Texas within the last 48 hours due to gun violence, but when you have a hope or a dream smashed, even if it was a miracle long shot, it's still a kick in the gut.

I guess I'm different - and maybe thankful for it too.

My daughter is a lot like me.

Two Saturdays ago, I think, she encountered somebody - after her long run for the week - who has experienced a lot of change in their world since the beginning of the year (doing my best to keep things vague here). 

And that change, largely which they've triggered, hasn't necessarily been well received by a certain group of people.

While my daughter is aware of many of the details, she made it a point to actively engage with the individual because - while she has seen the person's behavior in the community - she's been a friend to that person for a good long while.

She looked her straight in the eye, started to speak and the person immediately turned to somebody else and started up a conversation. 

All I could tell her is that I would never have done that the person's children, who some of them I know and have met.

It is stuff like that which you just shake your head at.

I just have to keep trusting God that He knows everything, understands what I'm dealing with and going through and the hurt and disappointment and will get me through it.

It isn't fun, trust me, but it is the only option that I have in front of me.

Be empathetic to what others are going through if you can.  Take the time to listen and care. 

And if you can just reach out to somebody today or tomorrow and let them know you were thinking about them and just wanted to say, "Hi!", I'm sure that they'll appreciate it.