Fairness in a "real" way.....

The definition of justice is the “fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made.” 

This time next week, I will be in day two of the Justice Conference in Philly.  The Centerpoint Outreach coordinator and I will be attending this amazing event.   For someone whose life work, talent and passion revolve around this idea, I am very excited about this opportunity.  I am going to absorb every message and gain as much knowledge as I can to bring back to my church family and community. 

Fairness means different things to different people.  We begin our young lives with a famous saying “that’s not fair!”  However do we ever think about what that actually means?  Many times that saying contributes to selfishness.  For example, if I don’t get my way with this situation, IT’S NOT FAIR. 

I have learned over the years that we take things for granted (I am learning this even more as I go through the Lent journey).  Some things really aren’t fair.  When something doesn’t go our way, when a child doesn’t get what he/she wants we overuse the word fair.  Really what is not fair in our world is when others go without clean drinking water, when children die of hunger, when people are discriminated against etc…… when we think of “fair” in this way it means something all-together different from our selfish meaning of fair.

When I attend the Justice Conference, I hope to leave completely exhausted and full of ideas to reach others who are not treated “fair.”  Fair in a “real” sense and not a selfish one.

We have a responsibility to help others who cannot help themselves.  We can make daily decisions that impact people’s lives.  One phone call, one personalized note, one hug.  These are things that can bring hope.

 Donating one year of clean water, sponsoring a child to go to school, feeding hungry children and/or volunteering  your time in local outreach efforts.  This my friends can change the world and provide fairness and justice to our world.  My challenge for you is to think about the things that you can do to bring true fairness to others.  How can you make a difference?  I challenge you to try!

 

 

Will your response be a bitter one or a better one?

Charles Swindoll stated that, “life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to what happens to us.” When I thought about this and meditated on this idea, I felt that it would be worthy of a blog post.  Things happen in our lives that are not always favorable.  We end up in situations that we didn’t think we would be in; then we have a choice to make.  Do we respond out of bitterness or do we respond and be better?

For someone who tries to keep a positive attitude a lot of the time, over the last 18 months I have had a difficult time in a situation in which my reaction was a bitter one.  This situation was very hurtful and it felt like a true loss in my life.  My knowledge was used and I was given responsibility that was going to lead in to bigger and better things.  Then decisions and favors were granted behind closed door conversations, resulting in a kick in the gut and tears in my eyes.  To a situation that I was so loyal, I was blindsided and betrayed. 

Fast forward to now and I can say that I have learned a lot and have gained a lot of insight.  I now have decided to be better instead of bitter and my response is just that.  I have also re-evaluated what is important in my life.  I have found a way to have balance and I believe that through tough times we find our strength and perseverance (even when it takes 18 months).

Think about that 90% and think about your response to others.  Zig Ziglar said that “some people find fault like there is a reward for it.”  Do you look for fault in life and in the 10%?  Is your responses kind?   Can you choose kindness over being right?  My challenge for you today is to think about the above questions and choose being kind over being right, be less interested in finding fault and think about how you can respond in kindness.  Instead of pointing out faults (bitter) look for the better.  In the end the freedom that our kind responses bring are always worth it.  Life is a journey and sometimes it takes us a while to learn these lessons.