Posted by
HowellUNC on Saturday, May 02, 2009 12:00:00 AM
To paraphrase Robert Browning in Pippa's Song, "God's in His Heaven, All's (Not) Right With the World." (This line caused Browning many problems because a lot of people did not consider it within the context it was written.)
There are increased bombings in Iraq. We have a terrible catastophe in the Italian earthquake. We have had a spate of mass killings across the nation including policemen, legal immigrants and children.
Why do these things happen? It is easy to say, "I don't know." But the truth is I do know. And we all know. Individuals, and countries, and even disturbed husbands, wives; and even wacko third world leaders have choices. Our Heavenly Father gave us that free agency. In each case we should all make the right choices. Sometimes we don't. But there are good things around us.
I recently witnessed a woman jump out of her car and help a heart attack victim at a bus stop. He lives. The woman had been laid off from her job just that day.
There are good people in this world. Boy Scouts are helping their community. Girl Scouts are comforting those in need. We need to embrace and teach more young people these values.
My thing? My UNC Tarheels won the Men's Basketball National Championship on my birthday, April 6. I'm glad, I'm happy. Hell, I'm ecstatic! Its just a little happiness from my little acre.
Still, I feel for those families in Italy who have lost so much; and for those new Americans in Binghamton, NY who lost their lives; and for the eight families who lost their parents and loved ones at the nursing home in Carthage, NC; and the eight children killed just last month at school in Finland; not to mention the three officers killed in California.
But remember, there are good things around us - enjoy those things, and pray for those who suffer the worst things.