Made to Lift More Than Weights

As I write this, the world is slowly slipping into complete chaos.  After a short stint of peace in the middle east we are now seeing people absolutely slaughtering each other.  They do this in the act of which ever god they believe in within their culture.  They have always been told that this other group of people are those that are against them.  That those people over there are the enemy!  They hate you and if you don’t get them first, they will be coming to kill you.  Destroying everything they encounter.  Destroying both countries and killing thousands of people with complete prejudice.

Then there’s us……The United States of America.  We watch what is going on from afar and without the slightest clue of what is going on, we pick a side and root for and defend our decision.  Defending our choice more intensely than we would ever think about defending our favorite sports team.  We watch our big screens of virtual reality and talk about how horrible the opposite group is and how we as a country should be doing more to help them.  “If I was in charge, I wouldn’t tolerate anything like this!!”

We have done this forever.  As far back as I can remember, at least, but there’s something different this time.  It feels like we are absorbing hate even more.  I was born in the early 1980’s.  So, during my time here on earth I have seen some pretty defining events. (I think I will have a post on that later.)  Typically, our tactics were to unite.  After major events communities use this to protect from the possible hazard (Fear) and this is also used for a time to heal.  We tend to reflect herd mentality.  We are a community reliable animal.  Whether we like it or not.  Herds of bison will put the weakest at the center of the herd.  All the strong will gather around the weak and turn outward.  Prepared to sacrifice themselves to protect those at the center.  That herd will also reward the strong by giving them what they need in order to stay strong.  They will sacrifice certain comforts (food and water) so the others can more effectively protect them by sacrificing their life.

We here in America have quickly become a community of people that are only focused on one thing, Themselves.  I don’t mean we have put America first.  I mean too many people are falling into an isolation type of mindset.  We only want what is best for us or at least what we think is best for ourselves.  We have been a group of people searching for that dopamine fix!  We are focused on being the best, making the most, looking the best and having the most likes.  Quickly falling deeper and deeper into depression.  “Ryan, I don’t think its really that bad.”  That’s fine.  You can think that.  Just wait until you hit rock bottom and reality hits you like a ton of bricks.  This is what this blog is going to be about.  I hit rock bottom and now you are all going to watch while I climb my way back up, but I am going to be allowing as many people as possible to stand on my shoulders that need to.

You see, I lived on both sides of this world.  I’ve lived the “God is Good!” side and I’ve lived the “But what about me!” side.  You see the second one will quickly lead to you looking around and wondering what happened.  The first is the greatest tool you will ever have laid in front of you BUT do you know how to properly use it.  If you look at God in a selfish mindset, it will lead you away from the church faster than anything else.  Once we are being led away from our herd, that is when we are at our weakest.  No more iron sharpening iron so our lives become dull, unable to make an impact on those around us.