Think on these things

If you watch political ads for long, you’ll start to take on a cynical view of this world. You’ll find that the skies will seem a little darker. You’ll trust your neighbors a little less. Your idea of the future will be decidedly negative.

Monarch Butterfly, Photo by D. Rupert

The foreboding figures that are presented seem to be more out of a Hitchcock movie than reality. Both sides are much better at painting the other side in ugly shades rather than presenting their vision of the future.

I think if reality was anywhere near what political ads claimed, there would be no hope. If I believed the messages, I should just draw the shades, gather together friends and family, and divvy up our meager cracker supply and wait out our days.

But things aren’t that bad. And regardless of who is selected in any one of the thousands of races around the U.S., life will go on.

At church yesterday the pastor preached these words from Philippians:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

I was struck by the last sentence: “Think about such things.”

My thoughts and affections should be filled with much more than the troubles of this world. Yes there is grief. Yes there is sadness. Yes there is inequity, and hatred, and persecution. Yes there is hunger, and pain, and unfaithfulness. But….

“Think on these things.” 
… the truth
… the noble
… the right
… the pure
… the lovely
… the admirable

Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things. “And the God of peace<sup value='(M)’> will be with you.”
  
What kinds of things are thinking of today?