I wrote this in my journal because I felt like I was breaking with frustration and I had to work it out in words. But I realized that I was writing it for other people, too. It's unpolished and raw and I'm sharing it because it needs to be heard.

This doesn't spring from the recent racial upheavals alone, but COVID-19, election season, and a situation more personal and close to home.

React. React. React.

That's all we do.

Someone raises a concept offensive to your values. You fire off a knee-jerk reaction. The other gets defensive. If you're smart, you back off. If not, it turns into just another angry, fruitless Facebook debate. Or Twitter debate. Or Wattpad debate.

Knee-jerk reactions are a normal part of life. You can't live without bias, and having your bias crossed will almost inevitably result in a moment of defensiveness. The issue comes when we act on that moment. When we fail to reflect. When we don't first ask ourselves, "What bothers me about this, exactly?" "Is there information I'm missing?" Is there a point of common ground where I can engage before mentioning a perceived flaw?" When we stop thinking, and just start reacting.

Our knee-jerk reactions are tearing us apart.

We live in the world of instant communication; our society is increasingly reliant on prompt gratification, on rapid response, on in-the-moment. On reactions. Can we help living in such a society? No. But we can help our part in it.

You don't always have to say the first thing on your mind. You can hold back, do your research, come to terms with any worldview corrections you need to make, and then speak.

If only people would just stop and listen. Just for a minute. Just long enough to realize that they don't have all the answers.

Lord, please help us. We're so broken. Help me. Help me to love, to forgive, to comfort. Give me courage. Help the helpless.

Help me to remember that this world is not my home.

We all need your help.

Thank you, Lord that you are in control. "The stars still turn at their Lord's commands." You will not let your plan fall, and someday we will see what you were making all along — loveliness out of the unlovely.

Out of darkness, light.

Thank you for words, for writer friends, and for your love.

Amen.