17
Feb

Why We Should Care…

comp

Last weekend my oldest son became engaged. My first thought on this big development? I’m glad I’m here to enjoy this. 

The longer I’m on the planet, the more I’m just happy to be here. I could have been dead at 39, when this son was only in junior high. Instead I’ve watched him graduate high school, graduate college, become financially independent, find the right girl, develop his own set of values (and I’m really impressed with those!) and now become engaged.

I’ve watched his sister graduate high school and college, get married, finish her master’s, succeed in her job, and buy a home. She, too, has a great set of values and her hubby is rapidly becoming my favorite wry comedian (not to mention a successful entrepreneur), as well as more of a son than a son-in-law. 

Their younger brother is even coming into his own, slowly but surely. He has been beset by a lot of obstacles, but on Saturday he looked great, helped me set up a surprise party for the bride and groom-to-be and was conversing like a true adult at dinner. He has a responsible job, is starting to pay his own bills, and is aiming for that “Employee of the Month” title.

I got to see all of this because I decided to care.

The second thought through my head this past weekend? Why can’t everyone see what I see?

I actually know the answer to this question: Because I had to go through life-and-death experiences to see what I see and most haven’t had that experience.

What do I see? Chronic complacency as our enemy.

From where I sit, complacency will replace a democratic government with a socialist one. A socialist one can devolve into chaos once other people’s money is exhausted to pay for everything that government wants to give its citizens. While I readily admit that we have people who seriously need help, I don’t like forcing people to help others. I prefer that generosity to come from seeing people hurting and choosing to help, simply because one person has been blessed a bit more than another.

That sort of intervention comes from compassion and not from fear of non-compliance with government regulations. Such intervention often inspires the recipient to work harder to achieve their own dreams and then turn around and do something nice for another struggling person.

From where I sit, complacency will teach your children to be lazy and to wait for life to come to them instead of creating the life their Maker intended them to create. Such creation is joy, even when struggles come their way–in fact, struggles are part of the creation journey and make success even more joyous! Wouldn’t you rather equip your children to handle such inevitable struggles, rather than let them whine about them and blame it on others?  Wouldn’t you rather let them dictate how their life will develop instead of letting others dictate that to them?

From where I sit, complacency will also get you dead. Yes, dead. If you fail to address your health pretty regularly, you risk a premature death and your family not having you around to help. If you fail to vote for change, chaos could result and people can die. All we have to do is look at Hitler’s reign in Germany for an object lesson in that kind of civic complacency.

Yes, from where I sit, complacency is our biggest evil. So, look around. What can you do to rid your world of complacency? What can you do to ensure you’re still around to do this?

Kennedy’s words are still important: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. Might I also add what can you do for your own health? Might I also add what can you do for your family, your city or town, your state and your fellow man?

Now, get out there and go do it. No more excuses. No more complacency. Because you do care.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 17th, 2016 at 10:50 am and is filed under Lessons Learned. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

comments

  1. February 17th, 2016 | Marsha says:

    Once again you gave a direct hit to that nail head!

  2. February 17th, 2016 | maryann says:

    Thanks, Marsha. You are too kind. Hope it provokes a little thoughtfulness.

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