At a Loss for Words

It is a sad state of affairs when a writer is at a loss for words. It usually means that the inspiration has dried up, or there are no adequate words to express either the beauty of a place or the  horror of a situation.

Recently I have been at a loss for words, and so I struggle to bring my thoughts together to finish this post. The words bumping around in my brain are harsh and filled with pain. Those words are hard to share because I want the world to be kind, lovely, and peaceful, and it is not. So, to compensate I go to my safe place of travel, and family, and puppy dogs. Is there any question why so many people right now are hooked on watching cats on Youtube? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with watching sweet cuddly cats, but I think it's the equivalent of sticking one's head in the sand.

The world is a mess right now. And, yes yes, I know, it's been a mess for thousands of years, but I am living in this mess, and it breaks my heart. I am a student of history, so I am well aware of the depravities of Rome, the horrors of the Inquisition, and the atrocities of Communist leaders like Mao and Stalin. Please! Wake up and be aware that between 58 and 70 million Chinese perished from execution, torture, starvation, and suicide during Mao's 27 year reign. Wake up! There is evil. There is right and wrong. There is a standard, and that standard is not set by Washington DC, or you and me, or Hollywood, or some philosophical think tank.

So...here come the words. Evil is pouring in on every side and there's only one way to combat it--personal rightness. Stop being abusive, lying, cheating, being unchaste, watching pornography, taking drugs, being a drunk, being selfish, ignoring the poor and the needy. Stop taking a hand out if you don't need it. Get to work. Stop complaining. Stop being proud and thinking yourself better than your neighbor.

Light is the only way to combat darkness. If you aren't in the light you encourage darkness. If you hate the evil taking place in Syria where thousands of innocent people are suffering--where families are blown apart and children are gassed, you must ask yourself, are my actions allowing evil to increase? If my personal rightness were stronger would I be able to push back some of that darkness?

It is the one idea that gives me hope. Personal rightness is something over which I have control. It is something over which you have control. My dad used to say, "If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

If you aren't part of the light, you're part of the darkness.

Wake up!

How's that for words?