The last week has been family celebrations for my family. My son, Joe’s birthday was last Tuesday, Hattie Jo’s 1st Birthday was Wednesday, which we celebrated with just her parents, Aunt Sarah, Holden and me, with a birthday cookie. On Saturday, we had her birthday party with family and friends, with social distancing, to some degree, in place.
It was nice to find some joy. That seems to be hard to find these days. There is so much turmoil and hate in the world lately. But I will say this for Stuttgart, there is hope here. This weekend was dubbed a “Unity weekend” with a couple peaceful protests on Friday and Saturday, followed by a Unity rally in John Cain Park on Sunday evening. Our community showed up. White, Black, Brown attendees were present. Some of our city and county leaders were in attendance and spoke to the group and answered questions that had been submitted. I am not recognizing any who were present, lest I forget someone. But you can view all events on the In the Loop Facebook page or website.
I have tried to rarely use this column for political commentary because we each have our opinions on things. There are plenty of people on social media who don’t hold back a bit with their opinions. Sometimes things can get ugly. Somewhere in the last 20 years or so, it seems to have begun to be okay to say things online to someone that you would never say to someone’s face. People have become cyberbullies showing the worst of their behavior to the world. For reasons I will never understand, some think this is an okay thing to do. It isn’t. Just because someone doesn’t agree with someone else’s opinion doesn’t give them the right to insult or ridicule that person. I don’t care who you are, what color you are, how rich or attractive you are, when you sink so low to put insults onto someone else’s opinion, you cross a line of decency. I don’t know if it is because we spend so much time on our devices or what. If that is the behavior we are going to have towards each other, then maybe we need to put down our devices.
I was taught growing up if you don’t have something nice to say,don’t say anything. Boy, could people today learn from that. Of course, the Bible tells us to treat one another like we wish to be treated. Can you imagine what a better world we would have if everyone did that? From individuals to corporations, we could change our world if we could. The Bible also tells us that if we have ought against a brother, we are to go them to work it out. It doesn’t say call them out on social media. It doesn’t matter how many good things you do if you don’t have love in your heart. Read Luke 13:23-27, 1st Corinthians 13:1-13, those scriptures make it so clear how God feels about how we act and what is in our heart. God always looks at our hearts. Always.
During these turbulent times we need also remember Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not wrestling flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Let Stuttgart be an example of a community willing to be better, to act better and to do better, so that all citizens can have a better life.
Until next time…
