Live Local

In these days of instant communication and up-to-the-second news, it is easy to become overwhelmed and cynical about the state of everything. Everything.

The environment. Global politics. National politics. The Economy. Education. The Church.
Yes, literally everything is under the scrutiny of literally everyone, everywhere.

Add to that the tribal nature of news reporting, youtube, wiki-this and insta-that, and we find ourselves at the center of a war of words, straining our eyes to see the truth through the haze of vitriol.
It seems that one outlet "knows" everything there is to know about a given topic or issue, until you scroll down and click and you find that all  they "know" is the opposite of what the next person "knows".
How is the average person supposed to navigate these waters of obfuscation?
I don't have an answer to that question, but I do have a suggestion that may help.
Get out of the water.

These days, trying to become informed and active about world and national events can be confusing, stressful, and leave a person feeling very small and helpless. Maybe it's time to let the world take care of itself for awhile, while we set ourselves about taking care of our own. Our families, parishes, and communities.
These are places that need us, where we can actually experience the gift that we can be to, and accept from, other people.
In these places we have an opportunity to be effective, to change things for the good, and to understand the other person without the filter of opinion.

Start small, and practice every day.
Fix a meal for someone, and eat with them.
Turn off the TV, or the computer, or the phone, for the majority of the day, while there are people present. Even if you are just reading or doing a puzzle or listening to music, you are approachable.
Get to your Faith community more often than Sunday.
Churches always have something going on. Ask what needs doing and go do it!
Give someone a ride to Church.

Get out and walk in your town or on your street. Get to know the neighbors. Look at their flowers, their dog, the new paint job on the house, and make a nice comment.
Learn about the services in town that need help. Is there a soup kitchen? A house being built by Habitat for Humanity? Maybe your town has a community garden.
Start a maintenance co-op for yards and homes. Older people need this so much!
Start a walking group.
Bring yourself to the table.

We can do so much in our smaller spaces. We live there, we love there.
These are our people, and our communities need us!
If we attend to the smaller places, the ripple effect will reach the bigger picture eventually.
Being mindful of our business can have tremendous benefits!

Turn off the news. Turn on your smile.
Start really living where you have been existing.