Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Find the good!

"Find a penny pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck!!"
I've made it a habit to always pick up a penny, nickel, dime, or quarter when I find them lay on the pavement or in a store.  (If we're in a store, I give it to the clerk but out in the "world" it goes in my pocket.)  I always look at the date and take a mental stroll down memory lane for that particular year.  I've reached an age that it is rare that I get a coin older than I am!  If the girls are with me, it is an opportunity to share with them a glimpse of time gone by.

Last week, I dashed into a store on my return to my car I noticed a penny by my back drivers side bumper.  Of course I picked it up!  The year was 1978 and a huge smile snuck onto my face as I began to recall a great year from my childhood.  I remember rushing home on Sunday after church to listen to Casey Kasem on American Top 40 countdown with my big sister, going to the drive in movies with my big brother, and who can forget visits to A & W where the carhop would attach the tray to your window with real glass mugs covered in frost and a giant pitcher or root beer?!?!  If you can remember '78, what is your favorite memory?
I snapped a picture of the penny in my hand and texted it to someone who played a significant role in my life-sharing some of the memories I had shared with the girls.  The response I recieved troubled me it was:

"Oh yes, good memories.  ________ and I were talking this morning about how things have changed, especially in the last 5-10 years.  How it seems like it is all turned up-side down.  where evil is glorified and good is accused of doing wrong.  Interesting, huh, how the world has been deceived!  May the blessing of Jehovah literally catch up and overtake you and your family!"

I want to really look at this, especially the part that says "evil is glorified and good accused of doing wrong."  I'm really not sure we're living in the same world because I'm not seeing the glorification of evil.  Sure, there is evil in this world-go back to the Bible and you'll find story after story of evil but more importantly you find stories of hope, promise, forgiveness and fulfillment.  Thinking about how the two of us had grown to look at the world from two very different perspectives-I believing in humanity that our cup is half full and my memory sharer seeing it as half empty-I recalled a story that had been shared with me sometime ago.  I'll share it here, I'm not sure if I can do it justice but I'll do my best.

On the outskirts of a town there was a gas station that was reminisce of days gone by, it still had an attendant who would fill your tank, clean your windshield and check your oil.   Up pulled a moving van filled with a family-dad, mom, and two kids.  Obviously they were moving to the town just up ahead.  As the attendant cleaned their windshield that dad asked about the town and what kind of people he would find, are the schools a good quality? 

The attendant thought a moment and answered with a question, "tell me about the town where you come from."

The Dad replied, "Oh our town was a gem, the people were friendly, the schools top notch, we really hated to leave."

The attendant grinned as he spoke, "I think you'll find our town is just the same, I'm sure you'll be happy here!"

Later in the week another moving van arrived at the pumps.  A similar converstaion was had and the attendant again asked of the Dad, "tell me about the town where you come from."

The Dad scowled as he replied "Oh our town was horrible, the people were rude and the schools were a sorry sight."

The attendant sadly shook his head as he said, "I'm afraid you are in for a disappointment for the people here are just like the people from your hometown."

When I asked why the two different answers, the attendant simply said, "You'll find what you're looking for.  The first folks were seeking the good but the second folks could see only the bad."

So today when you are tempted to dwell on the evil in this world, toss it aside.  Remember the good, choose to accept that you are indeed crazy blessed and revel in it!  It's hard to see the good in people if you're only looking for the bad..find the good!