What the World Needs Now . . .

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

And that is the best and onliest way to fight the tragedies that are descending on us from every side. Don't glorify the perpetrators by giving them air-time. It's what they wanted. Don't traumatize the victims by asking them over and over again to relive the event on-air. They need to heal. Don't start altering our Bill of Rights–because evil will find a way no matter what we do. Especially if we react with fear. Or anger. Or anything that is cousin to the darkness these people brought into our world. The best we can do is return it all with light. Love. Kill it with kindness. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. We need to light up the world.

And I think it starts with you. And me. One to one. Daily interactions. It starts by slowing down. Living in the moment. Noticing things. Appreciating people. The little tender mercies of life. I listened to the Messiah being performed in Trinity Church in New York City today–on my radio as I drove the freeway out here in the Rockies. And it was gorgeous. A concert from New York City in my car. Beautiful. I noticed it. And I felt lifted.

We can smile at each other. We can point out the good, and let the negative go by the wayside. It will eventually whither and die if we don't water it with attention. Everyone does good. Notice it. We can take a moment to let negative energy and emotion slide off. Loosen their strangle-hold. We can notice the people around us. See what they need. Try to provide it. Even if it's just a kind word. Or a joke.

We can be kinder to one another on the internet. Wow. Have you noticed what an acid place comment boards have become? And even Facebook sometimes? Arguments. Ad hominem attacks. And why? There's no need. Why not flip that on its ear and say something nice instead. Flood the place with something nice. Or say nothing at all. That's not too hard. And it puts positive energy into the world. Throw enough positive energy out there and the bad will smother. It will leave. Light does that to darkness. Makes it skulk away, and fills the world in its place.

We want a better world. Lets build one. A person at a time.