if

Grab a cup of hot cocoa. It's been awhile. Let's chat.

What a season folks.  This last quarter of 2016 has the country riding waves of massive change.

Where do I begin today.

I deliberately made the decision not to engage in discussions via the election on Snapshots of Wellness or elsewhere via social media. I genuinely believe that at such a sensitive time across the world, discussions need to be taking place face to face, over coffee, in living rooms & across tables. My hope is that as President Trump is inaugurated in January, people take a step back and observe their own behavior through the election and presently. My hope is that people make decisions to spring into action to better the lives of others by being of service. I pray that people push 'pause'...amidst their emotional reactions.....and that by self reflection, real lasting change emerges.

We all want change. But, so many are completely unwilling to do the work to create that change. Because change can be excruciatingly difficult and we are a country who values comfort, materialism and success to a degree that change isn't our thing.

It's hard to write about holiday gifts and recipes when people in Syria & elsewhere are being tear gassed and losing their lives. 

So, let's talk about 'If'....

What if everyone reading this today donated to Save The Children which provides enormous aid to Syrian children......wow, what if.

What if each of us, instead of talking so much about President Trump and where 'we stand' with him being President, asked one another what we are going to do to make this world a better place. And then we actually listened...and then followed through.

What if we each listened to one another to 'understand' vs. simply responding to defend our righteousness. Hmmm, what if.

What if we each took the money we were going to use to buy our loved ones holiday gifts we don't even need and donated that money to a charity whose dollars go 100% directly to the cause.  Ponder that. Can you imagine if we ALL did that.......wow, what if.

What if we gathered together.....communally......on weekends and became strategists together via how we can 'give back' to those in need. Can you imagine if we chose to do that? What if.

What if we actually followed God's Word. What if we actually obeyed Him.  Do you think your relationships would change? Do you think you would change? Do you think you would know Him better? Yeah....hmmm...what if.

What if we all lived with less. And shared the rest with those who are hurting.  What if we did that....what if.

What if we loved one another the way God intended. What if.

What if we spoke out and SPOKE UP about social injustice when we see it? Scary I know but, what if.

What if we EACH protected the voiceless. I am thinking the world might shift....what if. 

What if we each got educated on health, wellness. climate change, sustainability. Yes, even those of you who already think you've mastered these topics. What if you opened yourself up to learning even more. What if your health improved as a result? What if your families lives improved? What if your neighborhoods improved? What if.

What if we stopped seeking comfort. And we stopped seeking what WE want and desire. And we started seeking what God is seeking.  What if. 

What if we all stopped being so self involved and started being selfless. Would your day to day life change? What if.

What if....as a result of so much change, we all lived in a brand new world where no one felt alone and no one was left behind.

It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity. Cesar Chavez