What are you looking for?

A couple was traveling from one village to the next when they came upon a farmer working in his field. They stopped to ask him what the people in the next village were like. The farmer asked, “What were the people like in the last village?” The couple replied, “They were rude, unfriendly, dishonest people.” “You’ll find the people in the next village are the same,” said the farmer.

A second couple was also traveling between the same two villages and came upon the farmer. They too stopped to ask what people in the next village would be like. Again the farmer asked, “What were the people like in the last village?” The second couple replied, “They were kind, friendly, generous, great people!” “You’ll find the people in the next village are the same,” said the farmer.

I live in Orlando, Florida, where yesterday the worst mass shooting in U.S. history occurred at a LGBT nightclub, by a man propelled by radicalism and hate.

We are shocked and heartbroken, and it would be easy (and understandable) to lash out with anger at the injustice, the tragedy, the sheer senselessness of it all.

Yet what I’ve seen instead is an outpouring of love and support for the victims, their loved ones, and the LGBT community on my Facebook feed from friends who live not only in Orlando but across the country and the world.

This reminded me of that tale of the two villages I read years ago*: you will find whatever it is you’re looking for, whether it’s goodness, kindness, friendliness and love – or the opposite.

You will find whatever it is you’re looking for.

I choose to look for the good, and that’s what I find all around me – people offering their blood, sweat and tears to help others in need; people all over the world offering condolences, prayers, and love on social media; people from all walks of life supporting the LGBT community to let them know that they will not suffer alone, as for too long they did.

I know there are hate-filled messages out there, promulgated by those who seek to sow division rather than seek to unite us around our shared values of freedom – freedom of expression, freedom of choice, freedom to love.

But, I’ve made the choice to focus on the love and respond in kind.

You can visit http://www.weareorlando.org/ to find events in your area, and consider donating to Equality Florida’s fundraising campaign to honor and support the victims and their families.

Thank you for your generosity, your compassion, and your dedication to making our world a better place.

With love and gratitude,

Carol

* I can’t remember the book where I read this tale, but I found the version I used here online.

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