When Cooler Heads Prevail…

Today I want to tell you a story about something that happened to me, as I recognize signs or similarities in the goings on in today’s political world. With each authority figure that stands up, and with their platform, tells their followers to harass, to be uncivil, and to fight, I have become more afraid of something on a larger scale happening. I am standing up in an attempt to bring calm, light, and love back into the environment. Maybe my tiny voice will be heard by some, and maybe somehow we begin to find a way to forgive, to calm, to listen, to compromise, to have faith, and to love. I would say that people could get hurt. But, people have already been hurt and that has not changed the trajectory. In my world, more than one that stays steadfast in their anger and hate, is more than one too many for me.

I will preface my story with my belief that light always shines on the truth, even if that light is only a flashlight. I have found that when cooler heads prevail, and some are willing to seek that tiny bit of light, that things begin to change. Truths become more apparent as the light grows in luminosity, and personal responsibility, acceptance, apologies, and forgiveness have to come into play. My story goes like this: Years ago, I was harassed, put down, made fun of, and personally injured because a small mob decided to follow someone’s lead. Although I do know who started my nightmare, I was not privy to the information passed between them and the leader of the mob. Nor was I privy to any of the discussions between mob members. My only other knowledge was that I was taking treatment from strangers that I felt I did not deserve. And after too many months of this, I had had enough.

You see, up until the day I finally decided to stand up, anytime the mob appeared and began their antics, I removed myself as quickly as possible from the area. Some days I was not quick enough and suffered more than just mental anguish. I do not know who, or how many, in the mob knew that it had turned physical for me and truthfully I did not care. It was not important for me to know who in the mob knew I was being physically harmed, it was only important for me to save myself and have someone in that mob make a decision to have a cooler head, and search for truths.

The day I stood up to the leader and mob, and let them know I was prepared to protect myself from any further harm, was the day a tiny speck of light appeared in the eyes of one of the mob members. As they approached me for discussion, I tried to find a way to calm myself and give them an opportunity. In our conversation, they were able to tell me that they felt things had gotten out of hand, and they were able to answer some of the questions I presented to them. Of course I asked them why. I also asked if I exhibited any of the behaviors, or had spoken in any way, that would lead them to believe that what they had heard in the first place, was true. As is typical of mob mentality, as we were beginning to make headway, the leader came out to reign back in their mob member. This time, as I again made the choice to walk away, I was assured, from at least one mob member, that they were done with that mentality and they would be walking away as well.

That day it all stopped and something else began to happen. The light of truth began to increase and the members began to disband. The leader was to witness first hand the untruths that began my situation. So with humble heart, the leader apologized for what I had been through, and I made the decision to let it go. I have not forgotten, but I have chosen to forgive, if for nobody else or for no other reason than to lighten my own soul. I am learning that joy and love lift and fill my soul each time I choose to forgive and have faith. On the other hand, the memory is funny, in that it reminds us, what to do or not do the next time we are presented with a similar situation.

My story ended well because we all made decisions that brought us to the right place. I tell it to you in hopes that cooler heads will prevail in today’s climate, in hopes that we will seek deeper truths before we become part of angry mobs, and most importantly in hopes that leaders will find better ways to shine the light to truth, and bring entirety to situations for compromise, instead of being the catalyst for what an angry mob can and will do. I ask you today to think before you act, to research before you believe, and to try to become a part of a better way. If you have suggestions on what that better way is, or a story of your own, or a comment to my story, by all means come join in.