However, right now, I see pain and hurt,
depression and bullying, alcoholism and drug abuse, homelessness, hopelessness,
despair, war and injustice. I see broken
hearts, rejection, sadness and self doubt, I see struggle. Right here in my own backyard I see huge
profits being made by companies, but I also see good, honest local families unable
to pay the bills. I see too many marriage break ups, destroying families
forever. I hear constant talk about the future our
children will need to navigate, drinking, driving, promiscuity, drugs,
technology and I am gripped with panic.
I can’t make sense of it. I am not driven by a desire to make a lot of
money and own a lot of things, I don’t want to have a fancy career and a long
job title, I just want to be comfortable, free and happy and keep my family
safe. I want to feel light and joyful
but the weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders tonight. Everything around me and ahead of me seems
insignificant and small, except the relationship I have with my loved ones, but
is this really enough?
Facebook, Twitter, iPhones, television,
games, blogs, deadlines, followers does any of it mean anything at all? Are we slowly killing ourselves by what we
are eating? Are we destroying our
spirits by what we are watching and reading and doing with our time? Constant political backstabbing and name calling,
endless flow of celebrity gossip, so many advertisements showing us beautiful things
we need to be happy. Where is the
inspiration, the vision, the hope, the future?
What is all this for, where is it leading us, what are we creating? I want to shout ‘Stop it now, it is all so
wrong, it is insignificant, it is unimportant’, but I can’t because what does
right look and feel like?
Protect your heart for it is the
wellspring of life, but I am struggling to fill my heart with good, the dirty,
sticky finger prints of this world are leaving their smudgy marks all over my
heart.
I have a clear vision of the life I
desperately want to live, the life I believe I have been created to live, I
just don’t know how to get there. How
many other people feel the same way? Are
we a whole society stuck on a treadmill when all we need to do is step off, but
who will be the brave one to step off first? I am genuinely petrified if I step
off I will just fall flat on my face, and everybody who stayed on the treadmill
will laugh hysterically at me. It is
taking all my energy, all my joy and all my passion to just try and fit in, make the most of it,
try and function in this world that makes no sense to me. I don’t know why I can’t make sense of it, it
is frustrating, I am tired.
This blog has no answers, it is not delicate, pretty, soft or poetic and it is not a
cry for help, I know I live an extremely blessed life, which kind of makes it
harder to make sense of the world. Nothing will change as a result of these
words, except I am hoping I will find some peace and be able to fall asleep very
soon. Good night xo
Hey Justine, this is such a heartfelt piece, I hope you felt a bit of relief after writing it! I know what you mean, it is easy to get overwhelmed by that feeling of insignificance and impotence sometimes when I watch the whole news or some mindless commercial TV or even in dropping Dom off to school (on a bad day ;)! I remember our principal at school reading on a speech day this piece of writing that was deploring the state of the world, and how the youth of the day had lost the plot, where was it going to end? And then he said the author, who was a Greek writer from BC times (pity I can't remember who, it was a long time ago ;).
ReplyDeleteThat always brings me a little comfort - I don't know whether that means I am just sticking my head in teh sand! But it does make me try to look at things a bit more objectively and try to put it into perspective. It does come back to that circle of influence concept, where you start with what you can do and gradually move outward. And one of the greatest areas of influence we have is over our own chidlren and family, that is such a powerful place to start if we want to make a positive difference in the world!
Thanks for your words, they always inspire reflection and focus! xox
Great news ... I have been reminded I don't have to make sense of it, our wonderful loving God has the plan in His capable and kind hands. Phew, what a relief. I just have to trust in the grace and love He has lavished on all of us and rejoice in His glory.
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