I'm writing to you from the living room of a beach house in Panama City Beach, Florida. It's not my usual "space," but I've parked myself on a sofa sleeper to get these thoughts out of my head. Naturally, I spent today with my family on the beach, listening to "Today's Top Hits" on Pandora and watching my younger sister get tossed around by waves. With each breath, another wave crashed onto the shore, producing a sort of rhythm you simply can't find from any other part of nature. It's easy to become mesmerized by water, watching it ebb and flow and find yourself distracted from the world around you. As a wave knocked my sister down, I realized how powerful the Gulf was and how small she was in comparison. It's humbling, the water. I strongly feel that with everything going on in today's society, people need this humbling from a higher power to bring them back to reality.
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As a very spiritual person, I'm a firm believer in meditation, prayer and time for yourself. It calms the soul and gives all to the Lord. I, personally, have felt weight lifted from my shoulders if I'm struggling with daily challenges, or even something completely out of my hands. If you're not religious, as I've said before, it's OK, but, I think we can all agree there is some higher power in control of all around us.
With today's society in what seems to be a downward spiral, fighting for the equality of blacks, homosexuals, women and lately, immigrants, it's far too easy to get caught in the wrath. I understand passion. I understand loving something so much that you'd die for it, but I also understand that these issues can very well take us over as people. We get lost in the problem and never search for a solution. In the midst of an election year, we need to drop the hate and focus on our values. It's time for our generation to take a stand in the right way. A way too specific example would be the hate toward police officers. If you're unhappy with the way the force is run, go to a Police Academy and become one yourself. We're finally at the age where we can make a change. It's now possible for you to be the police officer who saves the life of a young black man or guides a fellow officer to do the right thing in a bad situation. It's amazing, the power the Lord has thrust upon us. We have been given the tools to make this world something special, so why are we being so selfish and screwing it up? We only have one chance at this.
If all else fails, have faith that the Lord has a plan. He's putting us in these situations because He knows we can get out of them and leave a historical trail in the meantime. If He has the power to move mountains out of the ground or knock a little girl down in the ocean, He has the power to guide us through what could be a revolution. Take some time and do good in the world. Thank a soldier. Say a prayer. Become selfless. Remember that you're one tiny spec in a world larger than we could ever imagine.
