Positive or Negative? … Hello weekend readers. I have a confession to make: I love the news, I love knowing what is going on in my city, state, country and around the world. I remember sitting with my dad to listen to the evening news. Dad was picky about journalists. I think a lot of that was from his time as a soldier in WWII. Snipers also took pictures before they stormed prison camps, the news had to be right—had to be spot on, whether it was good or bad—and my Dad was one of those snipers. His news choice—Walter Cronkite, and mine as well.

Today we have journalists who are like Cronkite and others that write yellow journalism for popularity. Yes, a lot of stuff is fake—often sensationalized to the point you think they may use this quip for an ’R-rated’ movie! But one thing is static, negative words and actions, and being negative…can hurt people in many ways.

Of course, we can’t deny the negativity what we see today between our friends and family. The never-ending pandemic has sucked the life out of so many that they lose hope and embrace a life of negative thoughts and actions. Families, relationships, workplaces—just about everywhere there seems to be nothing to say that is positive but a lot to say that is negative. And herein lies a deadly problem that will carry-on long after Covid leaves!

We are God’s people—we are the voice, the hands, the heart of God to give to this world but it seems we’ve abdicated that for polarized political thoughts, polarized religion, and a very strong living for our own selves. What does this kind of negativity do to us and those we should be sharing the gospel with—not much…very little light…each day we seem to settle with living in more darkness.

Here’s “negative story” you can get a laugh out of but also a good lesson.  I worked in dentistry for 12 years when I first got out of school. I loved it, loved the science of it and the “hands-on” work I was taught by a fantastic doctor and college. I also experienced the fear some people had of dentistry and we tried hard to dispel that. We also encountered people that figured, “if their MD was always late so is their dentist.” Not true in many offices and especially not in ours.

We had one guy in particular that drove us crazy. He was never ever on time and he told us “get used to it, it’s how I rumble.” My boss told me we had to either get rid of him or fix his tardiness—both seemed impossible. Soon, he had an upcoming appointment because he cracked a tooth and was in a lot of pain. I wedged him in—firmly telling him “this is all we had so be here on time!” As usual, he called about 15 minutes before arrival and said, I’ll be a half-hour late, no problem, right? I was gritting my teeth thinking of an answer, when my boss shouted from his office, “tell him no, but there will be no time to give him anesthetic.” I relayed the message word for word, and he answered, OK, I’m on my way, 5 minutes out. And he was, for the first time on-time and remained that way as long as I worked there.

You may laugh, but his negativity really messed-up the schedule for us and our patients. I often spent hours on the phone moving everything around for him and “Mr. Rumble-man” didn’t give a care about it because he only cared about himself. And truly, the change in him was the fact that no anesthesia would have an impact on—himself!

You know people who seem practically content to cause others trouble, but when some of that comes back to them, many change their tune. All of this reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 12:10 from The Voice translation: “Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first.” 

Paul was saying that in everything we do, consider the effects of your actions on other people. Stop and think, “If someone did this to me, how would it make me feel?” We’ve all been on the giving and receiving end of negative actions. What is the impact from either? For me it’s a smile or it is a downer for my day.

Paul’s words also remind us that, as Christians, his words in Romans 12:10 were not meant to be a suggestion! Instead, it is our duty to love others—even those who don’t love us. Yes, it is a tall order, but we also have the best example in Jesus! Again using The Voice, we read from 2 Peter 2:21-24. Read it slowly and take in every word…
For you were called to this kind of life,
as Isaiah said, He did no wrong deed
and no evil word came from His mouth.

The Anointed One suffered for us and left us
His example so that we could follow in His steps.

When He was verbally abused,
He didn’t return the abuse

When He suffered, He didn’t make
threats to cause suffering in return

 Instead, He trusted that all would be put
right by the One who is just when He judges.

He took on our sins in His body when
He died on the cross so that we, being dead to sin,
can live for righteousness.

As the Scripture says, “Through His wounds, you were healed.”

Now, ask yourself, “If someone did this for me, how would it make me feel?” You know the answer—we all know the answer. Nothing—even the foulest of negative words and actions will ever stop the love of Christ for all people. And nothing-nothing at all “can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.” AMEN!