I’m amazed at the difference between two different cities in two different states, 1500 miles from each other.
In one city it’s fearful to go out at night. In the other city, we were out and stopped to get gas at night, and I didn’t even think about until I got back in the car.
In one city there are multiple murders on the news everyday. In the other city there is one or two murders in the entire state over a week.
In one city mass robberies and shootings in malls made going shopping extreme fearful. Many used online shopping or pickup shopping, several that HAD to go to the store didn’t take their children with them. In the other city, shopping is enjoyable again in our lives.
In one city leaving porch decorations or holiday decorations out, had a huge chance of being stolen. In the other city, a random chair sat at a bus stop for over a year until it was weathered to the point of disrepair.
The difference? Integrity among the citizens, or at least a majority of the citizens. Another indication, in one city, churches are closing or consolidating; in the other city churches are prominent. Could this be another indication? I say, ‘Yes’. When we lose the peace within ourselves that is provided by a closeness to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ we lose our reason for caring about others or our community. How do we overcome the evil (yes, evil) that abounds in our communities today? By leaning on the Peace of Christ. How do we regain our positive attitudes in a negative world? By leaning on the Peace of Heavenly Father. How do we find our own testimony of the Peace?
The best way is through two simple steps. 1. Read the Scriptures. 2. Pray.
Implementing these two things in our lives will then compel us to fulfill other avenues of service, worship, charity, and loving our neighbor. How does one start? By starting. One day at a time.
One day at a time. That’s all. Will it change the world? It might. But it will make a difference in one life; the one that takes the challenge. One day at a time. One person at a time. One community at a time. One city at a time. One country at a time.
Carolyn Bendall 