We live in a world where the disparity between the elite and
the average person is overwhelmingly huge! What should define a person? Is it
their bank account, multiple degrees, fancy car, paid off mortgage, receiving
the student of the month in 3rd grade or how we treat those we don’t
especially like? The sad tragedy is that even after a day to remember the 9/11
terrorist attack I hear of a crazy person that attempted to set fire to a
lady’s blouse in NYC.
The term deplorable has been tossed around recently and the
media is highlighting it as a way to view as inferior those we disagree with
and it has become a form of self-expression to those that are proud of their
stance that seem to promote racism, sexism and classism. If this is the way that adults act or react
to circumstances it shouldn’t be any surprise that the youth of today have serious
issues with who to trust and is it possible to really listen to any adult or
friend in today’s society?
As I reflect on a graphic that summarizes so well today’s
edge we live around; “I care more about the people my students become then the
scores on the tests they take!” Yet, the reality today is that a friend
recently took the MCAT test is totally consumed with their test results. This
individual isn’t listening to the advice of a few doctor friends that would
echo it doesn’t matter which med school you attend or does it? I share this
passion of most teachers that the biggest outcome of parenting, teaching or
mentoring is to see an individual become a person who values character and
integrity!
Over the last week it has been the average or normal person
that has stepped up to restore my faith in God using the ordinary person to
accomplish extraordinary things. It was a police officer that responded to a
call to help a young teen that was being belligerent at a local library. This
officer very easily could have called DCS and had this juvenile placed in an
emergency shelter. Instead this officer drove this teen home and instead of
reacting to their rudeness responded with understanding. It was just as amazing
to hear a story about a local bus driver who is going the extra mile to help
one of his young passengers not get kicked out of school again. This driver
actually went out of his way to get info about this teen to help him deal
better with discipline issues on his bus.
So what is the ultimate test in life? Doesn’t it really come
back to how we treat those around us and even ourselves? Today as I drive
around it will be so easy to get irritated with the person that is in such a
rush that they pass me in a residential zone. I do have legit concerns about
the way this person drives and potential accidents but the bigger issue is
whether I care about enough to find out the why in another’s person’s life? Yes,
the world is much bigger than my little bubble that too often consumes me to
the point that I’m not able to look beyond a person’s circumstances to show
kindness.
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