I want to “do good” in the world. I mean, really, with very few exceptions,
who doesn’t want that? It’s a pretty normal
human desire to be a positive influence, to create a legacy, to leave a mark on
life in some way. Now, I’m no Nobel
Peace Prize Winner Mother Teresa type, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be reaching
anywhere near her heights of humanitarianism anytime soon. Yet, even short of actually creating a
worldwide phenomenon, I just believe that each of us has the need and the ability
to radiate positive vibes; or in the words of those great philosophers, the Beach
Boys, “Good, Good, Good - Good Vibrations!”
(If you don’t immediately sing this tune in your head, you may be an
alien. I mean, it’s #6 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of
All Time, for goodness’ sake!)
I’ve heard different people describe it in many
different words. Optimism. Beliefs.
Dreams. Hope. Positive thinking. Can-do attitude. They all point in the same direction. My word is “Faith,” and has been since I was
a young girl. In fact, I recently came
across a diary from high school. The
occasion was one of those agonizing cleaning-out projects that I had put off
for years until moving plans forced me to confront the paper-filled boxes or
find a new place for them.
Excruciating. Of course, it takes
way longer than it should, because I couldn’t help sitting cross-legged on the
closet floor to reminisce over each photo, place them all into piles to scan
into my computer for yet another future project, and read this outdated diary
of a 16-year-old with the lock still intact.
“Just got home, tired, turned on
the radio and my song immediately came on ‘Feelin’ Stronger Everyday’. It makes me happy and thankful for my life
and friends and renews my faith in Jesus!”
Now, I honestly do not remember being that
faith-filled as a kid, but it did make me realize that I still get a positive
charge out of that 1970’s Chicago hit.
It also helped me better understand why I now awaken each and every
morning uttering a personal mantra for my day’s inspiration: “This is the day which the Lord has made; we
will rejoice and be glad in it” from the Bible’s book of Psalms. Don’t
get me wrong, I already admitted I’m not a saint. Some mornings are better than others and
there are times I growl through gritted teeth “we WILL rejoice…” The point is, my personal drive to do good
is fostered by my faith as a Christian.
But, whatever we call it, wherever we seek it, we can only do good if we
find our own happy spot. After all, how
can I be a positive influence on the world around me without first finding a source
of good vibes in myself?
Actually, another teenaged girl’s diary said it
much better than little Nelda Lynn’s, with a beautifully simple message. Annelies "Anne" Marie Frank’s
short life ended in a war zone concentration
camp, yet she found the hope and optimism to scribble down: “…there
is always some beauty left - in nature,
sunshine, freedom, in yourself; whoever
is happy will make others happy, too.”
