CAN YOU BE DIFFERENT?

CAN YOU BE DIFFERENT?

We are—all of us—born into a deeply dysfunctional world, a world conditioned by millennia of selfishness, cruelty, injustice, stupidity, and fear. This has created a poisonous atmosphere that conditions all of our thoughts and moves and actions.

-Bishop Robert Barron

The first time I saw these words, they leapt off the page...I read and reread them until I was sure that I understood the full significance of what they meant. As a student of history, a continuous student of history, I agree with Bishop Robert Barron. Although this is just an excerpt out of a beautiful write up on grace, when I got to this part, something unexplainable happened to me, I got an awakening to something I had wondered about for quite some time; an awakening to the fact that as a species, we, humanity, has not done well when it comes to being humane. We have done amazing things, we have many awesome accomplishments; inventions, breakthroughs, discoveries, great feats of courage and endurance, but with regards to being humane, we have fallen short time and again, for history is replete with our human failings. Some of the atrocities human beings have committed are so appalling that one can only wonder at the depth of depravity we can sink to. We have failed humanity, we have failed the animals, insects and all other forms of life, we have failed the planet, the only one that can support life as we know it.

I was touched by the stark honesty of the words, so succinctly put. How else can we explain what humans have visited on each other from the dawn of civilization till whenever it is that we decide to stop and recognize that we are, all of us, one human family, made in love, for love, to love and of love? If one dissects this statement into bits, it is my opinion that we will see the need to be different...different from what has always been. So here goes.

“We are—all of us—born into a deeply dysfunctional world”

Is the world performing functionally as it should? As the human race, can we say that the world is currently a good place for all human beings? Can we say that basic needs for a decent life are met everywhere around the world? Can we state categorically that all human life is respected and protected? Can we say that there is peaceful co-existence between all human beings everywhere? If we answer no to any of these questions then we do live in a dysfunctional world. If we answer no to all of these questions, that world is deeply dysfunctional.

“A world conditioned by millennia of selfishness, cruelty, injustice, stupidity, and fear”

Has there ever been a time where the world has been without selfishness? Has there ever been a time when there has been no cruelty whatsoever? Has there ever been a time where all have enjoyed justice and no one has suffered a loss of their human rights? Has there been any time when human beings have acted sensibly, have never caused others harm by stupidity? Has there ever been a time where human beings have lived without fear? If the answer to one of these questions is no, then human beings have indeed lived for millennia in a dysfunctional world.

“This has created a poisonous atmosphere that conditions all of our thoughts and moves and actions”

Do we currently have no biases towards others? Do we accept people as they are and respect them as human beings no matter the differences? Do we hate, dislike or disassociate ourselves from any set of people for any reason? Do we consider some people less than we rate ourselves for any reason? Can we live anywhere freely and happily? Do we have any considerations whatsoever about any country or culture or religion or gender? Are our friendships, families and associations as diverse as they can be? This calls for introspection; each must answer for oneself and be one’s own judge.

Can you be different?

Can you change your narrative? Can you decide to be a person without bias? Can you suspend all judgment and accept people as they come, warts and all? Can you give people the benefit of the doubt? Can you live peacefully and let others live peacefully? Can you look out for the vulnerable and be a champion of the weak? Can you stand up against injustice and cruelty? Can you make this world more humane, more livable, more comfortable? Can you start with yourself to make your corner of the world less dysfunctional? Can you be different? Can you help others to be different? To change the world is as simple as each person changing just themselves, yes, it is that simple. If, as we know, there are over 7 million people in the world today and all of us decide to change ourselves, that would equate to over 7 million changes! What a beautiful world that would be! What a great way to start a new decade! Can you find the personal conviction to change yourself? Can you be different?