That's just who I am...

I am part of a split generation. One part tradition, one part apathy, one part cynacism, and one part hope. Each day I have a choice to make. Which part of my generation will I be?

Some days I am strictly grounded in the tradition of my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers, pastors, and others. I love the history of who we are, where we've been, what we dream, what we want to be.

Some days I am embarrassingly apathetic. Not because I don't care, but because I can't face the responsibility our generation holds. Our parents and grandparents are part of the largest ever group of aging adults. Guess who gets to care for them... That's a lot of responsiblity. We have personal and federal debt that is growing by leaps and bounds and threatens the financial well-being of not only our nation but of the world. Guess who gets to start the process of paying for it... That's a lot of responsibility. Our world is growing and changing and developing at unbelievable speeds. There are so many moral ramifications tied to that development. Guess who needs to be concerned... That's a lot of responsiblity. Some days I just want to go back to bed.

Some days I am so cynical you should just shoot me. Like that's ever gonna happen... We talk about change, we talk about hope, we talk about "Ameri-CAN", blah, blah, blah. All we ever do is talk but do we ever do??? Like that's ever gonna happen...

In spite of all of that... I am part of my generation who has hope. Hope that things will be as good as they've ever been. Hope that we can come together as a nation and as a world with similar ideas, similar goals. Hope that we can embrace race, culture, religion... not as things that separate us but as differences that join us - each person being part of a puzzle. Hope that good will triumph over evil (okay, I KNOW that one's gonna happen. Read the Bible...) And I have hope that we will work together to empower our churches, our communities, and our government to play active roles in that outcome. It is my responsiblity to support and empower those around me as they do the same for me.

Ameri-CAN. Christ CAN. You CAN. I CAN... (apparently Dr. Seuss CAN, too... oh, and toucan)

And by the way... I think Barack Obama CAN. I voted for him...

"Optimism isn't about hoping for the end result. I'm content to enjoy the hope, without needing to be assured of the outcome." - Michael J. Fox