“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference …” Elie Wiesel
Ahh, Easter Sunday, a time of contemplating resurrection, new birth, new beginnings and new hope. Spring has arrived here in Ferguson, I can tell because all of my weeds are coming back strong!
In a couple of days we will hold municipal elections to vote in some new Council Members. I expect a record turnout, which is a great start to shedding apathy. However if we emerge from our indifference just long enough to vote, then return to our apathy, expecting the Ferguson City Council to solve all of our problems, Ferguson will never achieve its potential.
Most of us are still in shock that our sleepy, pleasantly diverse little town is now in the national spotlight. Everyone from those in the highest offices of this country to anyone with a Facebook account has no shortage of advice, condemnation and yes, even ridicule to offer. Most of those people have never visited Ferguson, never talked to a Ferguson resident, police officer or protester. Fortunately none those people no matter how powerful they are control the fate of Ferguson. We do!
I purposefully skipped any New Years resolutions, but I’m ready now for a few “Spring”, Ferguson themed resolutions. (please don’t mistake these for being preachy, they are aimed only at myself)
- Make the effort to get to know more neighbors, shake some hands, talk face-to-face, not behind a keyboard … listen.
- Whenever possible support local businesses from all parts of town.
- Seek opportunities to be a peacemaker.
- Learn to ignore those who only want to sow discord and hate. I can’t “fix” them, but I can ignore them.
- Celebrate our diversity.
- Accept that I can’t straighten everyone and everything out (let it go Poppy).
- As much as is possible, see everyone as a child of God, without my own filters.
“Mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures, it is our gift to each other”. Elie Wiesel
Poppy Walks the Dog ... 