We must constantly remind ourselves that we are not entitled to lives
without:
Annoyances
Misunderstandings
Disagreements
Setbacks
Mistakes
Fear
Sadness
Unfaithfulness
Failure
False accusations
Unfairness
Rejection
Hostility
Cruelty
Injustice
Prejudice
Abuse
Harassment
Poverty
Discomfort
Pain
Injury
Illness
Death
In America, we may have laws that punish those who practice some of them,
but the reality is that we are not exempt from experiencing them.
The challenge is that we must live in community with
other human kind. Although we have tremendous capacity for good, we also have a
natural tendency toward selfishness, greed, jealousy, pride, and lust.
When we encounter the things that upset us, those circumstances bring about
opportunities to develop positive character qualities and pursue our capacity
for good.
We have a real propensity to make a bad situation worse; to match and
even escalate the negativity that comes our way. But, in our better moments, we
can exercise self-control and practice grace and forgiveness, love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness and goodness.
Let’s do good.
