Balancing The Weight of the World

My most recent blog post had a publishing mishap that I’m very sad about. So, if any of you missed my exclusive interview with Eric about his new song please go check it out today, and enjoy! It is praiseworthy and of good report – something we all need these days! Which leads me to the subject of today’s post.

Is it just me, or does it feel like it is getting harder and harder to live in our world?

Historically speaking, we’ve had a lot of dark days. For example, there were the “Dark Ages” which certainly lived up to its name. The majority uneducated, unable to read, and constantly ill – and you spent your life – however short –  watching all your friends and family die from the black plague. Definitely not an easy time. There were all the bloody years of the crusades. There were the years of slave trades and Civil War – families divided and destroyed, brother killing brother. There was the Dust Bowl, and The Great Depression. The emotional and physical carnage of World War I and the devastation of World War II, the holocaust and multiple other genocides – certainly all dark and hopeless times. The 60’s drugs-sex-rock-n-roll moral decline, combined with the Vietnam War, desegregation violence, the MLK assassination, the JFK assassination… certainly none of these were an enlightening or hopeful time period. And, let’s not forget the years of the Cold War – when the world was in constant fear of nuclear attack and schools regularly held bomb shelter drills. And then, acts of terrorism around the world, and even in our home towns.

Looking back over dark times of the past may not seem like a very positive activity, but it helps provide some perspective.

• Life has always been hard.
• News has always been bad.
• Humanity has faced great trials, terrors and worries, and plenty of things have spurred hopelessness and fear of the future.

So, perhaps things only seem worse today primarily because thanks to social media and the myriad of devices we literally have at our fingertips we are more aware than ever before of the terrible/sad/bad/scary things happening. We have instant access to bad news at any given moment. It floods our news feeds and social media sites 24/7.

For example, by 7:30 am today my heart was already torn and broken after reading the first-hand account of a friend who watched her 15 year old daughter killed during a shooting rampage. Her riveting yet traumatic story was published in Vogue Magazine as part of the #WearOrange for gun violence awareness week series. And, ironically just a few hours later came news of another campus shooting today, leaving more innocent victims. That was just the beginning of my day. Since then, I’ve been distressed about a missing LDS sister missionary, a story about North Korea, several various articles about Trump and Hilary [let’s face it, anything regarding the upcoming election causes anxiety], an article about the abuse Pakistani women suffer, an article about sex trafficking victims, and so many other dismal, heart wrenching things.

Simply turning on a computer or looking at a smartphone can be seriously damaging to one’s psychological and emotional health.

And if that were not enough, there are all of the personal stones we carry in our pockets – our crushing unseen sorrows, the worries that consume us, and the private battles we wage every day.

It’s probably a safe conclusion that each of us feel the weight of the world on our shoulders on a daily basis.

But, this is exactly WHY I created my blog. I wanted to add at least something a little more positive to the world wide web. I wanted to try adding some balance to so much darkness. I wanted to “stand as a witness at all times and in all places” that there is hope and Light. And, I’m certainly not the only one who feels that way. There are so many people making a positive difference and filling the interwebs with goodness. Like the people who run this positive news site, or a site about random acts of kindness, not to mention all of the wonderful, uplifting music uploads on YouTube- such as MoTab, and Piano Guys, or the “Vlogging” episodes of The Shaytards, or the clean comedy sketches from Studio C, and the inspiring Story Trek episodes ….just to mention a few.

There is still a LOT of good out there.

But the bad, sad and ugly always seems to have the upper hand tipping the scales.

So what do we do? How do we survive the pressure and burden of living in this world?

My personal suggestion is to fill up your mind with at least 3 positive stories/songs/images for every 1 negative. (this might take some practice and effort, but it’s worth it)

Here are two more tried and true methods:

• Reach out to others –

  “Bear one another’s burdens” – Do a random act of service – Be a listening ear.

~

• Reach out to God

  Trust in Him to bear our burdens.

None of us can carry all of the weight that is placed on our shoulders at any given time. We cannot solve all the problems, wipe away all of the tears, or restore what has been irrevocably lost.

But there is someone who can, and will, and does.

“It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. … If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers” – Gordon B. Hinckley

I truly believe that our our Savior Jesus Christ will not forsake us. He really does have the whole world in His hands, and when things seem at their darkest, and when we feel at our lowest point – especially then – He is always there. If we ask, He will take our burden and carry it for us for awhile, and He will help make us stronger. He knows the secret longings of your soul, and the pain in your heart. He  knows your fears and your wounds. And, He can heal you.

I’ve had this happen personally over and over again. There have been some very dramatic events in my life where the miracles have been aparent. And, there have been the day-to-day sorrows, and he’s been there for those too. Like this morning when I felt so weighed down I didn’t think I could face the day, and I didnt’ think I had anything positive to say. He spoke to my heart. He reminded me. And, that’s the message I had to share today. He is there.

Hang on, and let Him do the heavy lifting. – MoSop