It is with sadness I write this post. I write it as my own opinion and not to reflect on any one person or anyone connected to me. It is not a critique of any one person, but rather the sum total of a situation...It is my observation and how it made me feel as a person, and a member of the human race.
I am both proud and humbled to be a Canadian. We live in a country where we are free to worship, have an opinion without fear of reprisal or death, build business, earn a living, associate with whomever we please. We are a privileged people. We are a people bought with a price, a heavy price. the price of our troops blood, shed on foreign soil throughout the years, to maintain our freedom.
Over the past weeks and especially this weekend....I was saddened as I watched grown men and women, supposedly comrades in a community, former brothers/sisters of the road....accuse, belittle, tear apart each other, and yes...sad to say...bring shame on the very troops that they were honoring. Jealousies, disrespect of each other, finger pointing, accusations, belittling each other, posturing as to who was right and wrong. Shame on you!
I know that the intention was not to disrespect the troops, but all in all, that was what happened. The men and women who died for our freedoms, and their families, watched as the very people who intended to honor their country's/families dead heroes, brought shame and disgrace, in their comments and petty emotions as they fought through the social media. There were even those who stirred the pot up from behind the scene...again...shame on you, manipulating people.
You could have all backed off, supported one another, and hashed it out privately, but you didn't. Everyone just had to have their negative say and piece of everyone else....and those who put up a false front, agreeing in public but devising hurt in the background.
In my heart I walked away, I withdrew my name from several FB groups.
I remembered how years ago, when my family visited the Middle East, that "because they were a CANADIAN", and carried a CANADIAN passport, when the ship docked in certain countries, a foreign military guard was placed on them, to protect them, because they were CANADIAN. The Americans didn't have that privilege at the time they were there, only Canadian citizens. They were honored for who were and the country they represented while there. At who's blood cost did that protection come? Our troops who had gone before us in years past.
In my personal life, throughout the years, I have had a lot of things happen that would have knocked many people to the ground, never to get up again. I have got up, and started over again and again. One of the lessons I learned was that if there is something, or someone in your life, that causes a sense of upset and chaos, walk away, shake the dust off your shoes and leave it behind you. Don't allow the peace to be disturbed within you, nothing is worth more than peace.
This whole mess made me sick inside, in my very soul, in my spirit. So I walked away. I don't hate anyone, and I will always be your friend, I won't belittle you for your beliefs, or your opinions, but I choose to protect my "peace" by not entering into the strife. When I see you, I will smile and you and hug you, because I like you, and while I don't like the actions taken, I do like the people. All sides.
As a spiritual person, I look at the blood that was shed on the cross, by the first soldier of the cross. For you and I, that we may have a bigger freedom than just an earthly existence. The price of the blood was shed.
Not just for your soul and salvation. Inside that blood that was shed lies freedom from everything, pain, disease, poverty, emotional/mental/psychological/physical healing. That we be rich in everything we have need of, body, soul and spirit.
So when I post a scripture, I am not dishonoring or disrespecting you as a non-believer, I am honoring my God for bringing me through yet another day, and allowing me to forgive those that are hurting me. Please feel free to block my posts, I won't be offended and I respect your feelings.
Believe me, there are people/posts I block because of the content. I don't hate you, but I don't have to look at the off-color, lewd and even mean stuff you post about one another.
My past is checkered, but I honor "my" personal soldier of the cross, for the freedom I have to be a new, a better.... person, and to be able to look at all around me and say, "I will have peace at any cost". It is my right.
So if you don't see me around FB a lot anymore, or entering into conversations that belittle other people and what they are doing and saying, or answering emails telling me about "who said this" or who said that", it's not because I don't care, it is because I care too much, and I will not be part of the drama and gossiping that will hurt another person, no matter who they are or even if some people think they deserve it, nor will I allow it to disturb my peace.
I have to maintain my focus, in order to fulfill the destiny that God has for me in my life. To help those that are put in my way to be helped, to support those who need support... Gossip and hurt have no part of my destiny. And it shouldn't in yours either! Walk away, be the better person.
Ok folks, sliding my soapbox back under the bed.
Peace out.
