In the past few months, we have been surrounded by crises and events that seem unimaginable. Hurricanes have left havoc and despair in their wake, earthquakes have caused unimaginable damage and death, shootings have shook us to our very core, racism has reared its ugly head in ways that should have been put behind us years ago, and politics . . . well, I do not even want to go there.

In all honesty, I believe that the capacity for great evil lies within all of us. It is in that sin nature that has been present since Adam and Eve disobeyed God. But I believe more strongly that the capacity for great good is also in us and needs to be nurtured and set free.  Somewhere, deep inside of me and hopefully, you, God has put a kernel of hope. Hope that despite all of the despair, negativity, and hurt, we can rise to be better people. Hope that we can overcome evil with good. Hope that love wins out over hate. Hope that despite tragedy in our lives, there is a better day coming.

The truth is if I want to live in a different world, then it has to start with me. I must choose to be kind, loving, merciful, and a peacemaker. I must choose to be a positive influence in the world around me rather than a negative one. I must choose to do less judging and more listening.

And that is one of the reasons I desperately need God. Because I do not think I can do this on my own. Because sometimes I give in to that sin nature and the results are ugly. So today let my prayer be the same one that St. Francis of Assisi:

Will you join me in trying to be a difference maker? Who knows what ripple effect it can have on the world around you.

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