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Finding the Silver Lining

On a recent flight from Dallas to Houston I was seated at almost the very back of the plane. I remember when I was a seventh grader riding the bus how we would scramble for the fun bouncy back seats...bumpy rides aren't as much fun a plane.

Enduring the airborne equivalent of a bull ride with a hot cup of coffee, I was determine to stay my cheerful self, although my introverted tendencies are painfully challenged in such close quarters. I prefer to people-watch, instead of interacting...
Long before the bull ride was over,  it was painfully obvious I would need to make myself comfortable for awhile, until the aisle cleared.  In the two seats next to me, a middle aged couple kept their seats, too, chatting intimately as they sipped the large sodas they had carried aboard. They seemed happily, equally oblivious to both the crowd and the wait...they were content in enjoying each other's company, savoring the moments they waited together.

Respecting their privacy, I turned my attention to the rest of the plane. There was the usual bustle and bumping around, retrieving bags and other items as the passengers waited for the door to open and the shuffle forward to begin. As I listened and watched, I began to read between the lines of bustle and noise, and I deciphered something very pleasing.  Kindness. Courtesy. Compassion. In spite of a very few self-absorbed people, the crowd of passengers seemed more concerned with helping each other, than helping themselves.  Up and down the aisle, emerging through the hum like so many pop-up speech balloons, some offered their help pulling bags down from the overhead bins, while others smilingly insisted that others go ahead of them. Instead of competing to get off the plane first, almost everyone was determined to ensure that others comfortably exited. The aisle was peppered with pardon-me's, pleases and thank-you's. Had it always been this way, and I just didn't notice?

I began to question my own outlook. How many times has our day been "ruined" by a practiced road-rager, or first-class jerk at work or in the checkout line? Maybe our outlook is more skewed than the world is. Maybe we should look beyond the drama that's magnified by our own indignant point of view, and see the silver lining. There are still so many good people--it's just that the bad ones get all the attention.

I am beginning a new take on things, today. If I'm in the director's seat in this ride, I choose to crop out, blur out, and leave all the bad characters and scenes on the cutting room floor. I'm not in denial about all the evil in the world -- I just choose to stop focusing on it. I choose to zoom in on the silver lining.

 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. -- Philippians 4:8 
Photo by Sarah Edwards @trotshots

see more amazing horse pics at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trotshots-Equine-Photography/824808537547060?pnref=lhc

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