It is so easy to ride the wave of negativity. To get caught up in negative conversations and become disheartened by the often very negative portrayal of media. This post is a follow on from my previous one. Again, I want to highlight the choice we have during this time. It’s not always easy to be the individual that offers a more positive outlook or who chooses not to get swept up in all the negativity.
Often having a more positive outlook may mean you get dismissed as being naïve or unrealistic. But I am going to encourage you to consciously choose to create a more positive narrative for both yourself and the people around you. This is not to say that there isn’t negativity, pain, suffering, hardships and so on, but its to say that it is not all I want to choose to see and focus on.
Often positive people are said to be out of touch with reality, only seeing rainbows and sunshine, but I think so too are the individuals who choose to see only darkness, pain and suffering. Just like in many things in life there exists a spectrum in which we need to find a healthy balance. The reason why it is so important to be conscious about our perspective, our mindset and the narrative that we offer is that it not only affects us but all those around us.
“I am because we are”. We are called to live in community with one another, and when we do, life becomes so much more meaningful. “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable”. I have not been prouder to be a South African than in the last couple days, seeing people from all genders, race and socio-economic backgrounds coming together to clean our communities as one. It has been so uplifting and has given me so much hope for the youth of this country. Yes, there are certainly still so many systemic and ingrained issues that need addressing, but to witness the way in which so many community members have chosen to respond to these recent events has been a joy and privilege to witness and be apart of. I have witnessed the essence and spirit of ubuntu in a tangible way. That is the narrative I want to tell, one of hope and resilience.
We get to dictate how our story is told.
Romans 12:9-21 – “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”
Live it well 