In Search of Good News

I’m on a serious quest to find good news.  What with the horrendous death of George Floyd and the ensuing circumstances, plus the pandemic, the depressing politic scene, scary economics to name but a few, we need all the good news that we can get.

I admit to having a full-blown Pollyanna mentality.  I admit that I really do not want to see anything that hurts my heart.  I also admit that there is plenty of news out there that I really, really do not want to acknowledge.  I readily confess to employing the head-in-the-sand trick when something ugly rears its head.  Yes, I know it’s there.  Just don’t show it to me.  They don’t call me the rainbow unicorn for nothing.  So no.  Don’t show me.

Somehow, the news always manages to find a way to seek me out in spite of the fact that my head is stuck in the sand.  This morning it was my iPad that bore the news of protesters spreading social unrest across our nation in reaction to George Floyd’s death.  This unavoidable troubling news shows up in our lives even without benefit of a TV, and like it or not, it floods the consciousness of every single being on the planet whether we realize it or not.  It’s in the noosphere.  But enough said about that because bad news is not good for us.  The less focus on it, the better.

Today on Facebook, I found a heartwarming little tidbit of light shining through the darkness, a bit that perhaps in some tiny measure may remind us that in spite of the overwhelming focus on negativity, there is goodness still alive and well within the heart and soul of humanity.

This morning my quest for good news led me to a photo from Facebook of a Tarrant police officer, William Stacy.  The caption brought a tear to my eye.

This woman stole 5 eggs to feed her children.  Instead of arresting her, Officer Stacy bought her a truckload of groceries.

Ahh.  Finally, some good news to add a bit of balance to the ugly.  I wish there were a scale on which we could weigh the balance  of good news and bad.  I wish that we could have proof positive and know for certain that good is winning.

When I look at the photo of the man responsible for the death of George Floyd, I see the face of a troubled, haunted man and it makes me wonder what would drive a person to be capable of such behavior.  I cannot imagine what that possibly might be, yet I find myself overwhelmed with a sense of compassion.  There but for the grace of God go I.

There are things that we cannot know, save what drives our own behavior, and even that sometimes remains a mystery.

I know that if I do not like what I see, I can choose another way to look at it.  I know that I can decide how I feel about something, and that my decision will have an impact not just on myself, but also others as well.  I know that I am responsible for my own thoughts and actions.  I know that I am the one who makes the choice about what I want and what I don’t.  And I am the one who recognizes the profound impact of every choice and decision that I make.

The heart of humanity embraces the individual heart of every person on the planet.  Within that heart beats kindness, love, and compassion, ever present if we will but seek to find it.  Individually and collectively, we hold the power to tip the balance in favor of light and goodness.  Seek and ye shall find.

Note:  The photo above is courtesy of New Waves of Light, a website designed by anonymous individuals around the world who share the intention of bringing light and love to a world of darkness and chaos. (newwavesoflight.org or NWOL.us).