On occasion, I find it valuable to remind myself that this life is going to end far sooner than our thoughts will allow us to perceive. It isn’t morbid, sad, or depressing. It is fact. 

Our time here on earth is just a blip on the radar. 

When you zoom out, you can see that the “blip” has completely dissolved to the point that it is unrecognizable.

When you zoom out, you find hope. 

Hope that there is an eternal home in heaven for those who believe. 

But that does not mean that the “blip” is insignificant. 

There are millions of “blips” representing the lives of all the people we interact with. 

When you look at the “map” in this way, you can see that although individually, our lives may appear to be washed away, collectively, a greater mark is evident. 

There are “good marks” representing all the people in the world who are working from a foundation of hope. 

This light shines far brighter than the darkness. 

We may not be able to change your presents circumstances. 

We definitely can’t change your past. 

And, 

We have less control over our future than we think. 

All we have is this moment. 

Feeling overwhelmed? 

Take a breath, and zoom out. There you will find peace far greater than our little brains can imagine. Maybe it comes in the form of another hopeful human, maybe it comes in the form of choosing to let go. 

Feeling discouraged? 

Take a breath and zoom out. There you will find the goodness, grace, and mercy of a loving God. And yes, hope that he has a plan that is good. 

Feeling hopeful and encouraged? 

Move. Be the light that someone else needs. 

The one thing I love about this community is all the people who are taking action. Moving. Helping. Encouraging. 

Your acts do not go unnoticed and serve as a reminder that our circumstances do not determine the quality of our life. Our response does. 

So, for those innately positive folks, keep going. You are shining a much needed light in the world. 

And, 

For those who skew toward the negative. Come join me in making it a daily practice to cleanse your mind daily of all of the things that are going wrong, and zoom in on the good things. If you don’t see it, keep looking. The illusion will eventually become clear and the good things will eventually come into focus. 

“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” – Howard Zinn