I Might Need a Nap

This evening a friend of mine posted about a new policy in the school system.  She has made the decision since school got out in May to homeschool her child.  This policy will not affect her child at all, and yet, she is upset about it and is calling the system out for it.

Good for her.

Too often I see people share their feelings of relief about something that has happened–trying to separate themselves from whatever tragedy or incident has happened.

“Thank goodness I homeschool, because of this that happened in such and such school…..”

“I’m so glad I live in this country and not where our daughters are being kidnapped for going to school…..”

“Well, it’s a good thing I never go to Wal-Mart, after what happened at that one in such and such a town…..”

Y’all.

For the love.

This way of thinking really gets me riled up.  Because you know what?

It affects us all eventually.  We’re in this together.  The world is small.  Our lives are just blips on the screen as we pass through on our way to the next Destination.  And what happens to each one of us while we are here affects every other person on this planet.  There is no us and them.  There is no being safe from something because we aren’t in the “same boat/town/country/situation.”  What affects one, affects us all.

As we raise our children, do we really think they won’t be affected by all that is happening all over this world?  I homeschool my children for many reasons, but keeping them in a bubble is not one of them.  Even if it were, one day they’d have to step out of it.  There’s a whole world out there I hope they’re going to change for the better by working hard and loving on folks.  All kinds of folks.  No matter how they live, what they believe, where they shop, what they drive, or how often they are able to shower.  I want them to learn to love all.

And I just don’t see how it can happen if we don’t teach them to care about all folks in all situations, not just the ones that affect us and are right there in front of us.  If we don’t teach them to care about people and circumstances beyond where they live, we have failed them.

Y’all, we are the Body.  We are the world.  We are one.  Whatever angle you look at it from, we are in this together.  And as scary as some things are, and what a comfort it is to say, well that can never happen to me, so I’ll just move beyond it…..that’s wrong.  Folks are hurting and broken all over, and while that is happening, there can be no moving beyond.  For any of us.  Not really.

Just a thought.

Love to all.