I Walk the Line

I've got to call myself out. I consistently walk the line of cynic. And I walk the line of liking and not liking that I walk that line.

This morning on Good Morning America, they showcased a "challenge" that was to create awareness and generate funding to support ALS. Here's how it plays out. Someone challenges a social network "friend" to either make a donation to support ALS research, or post a video of them dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads. This challenge was started as an awareness campaign by a woman who's husband is battling ALS. A noble and meaningful effort. An effort which my son participated in last night. Not sure he's fully aware of what ALS is. Not sure I am.

So let me share my thoughts on the two aforementioned "lines" I mentioned that I walk.

The Line of the Cinic
I'm 47. While I believe I listen and have an ability to change my thinking about things via exposure, education, and understanding, I find myself pretty darn set in my ways. So this line is outwardly probably the worst. You see, I can dismiss an effort like this ALS challenge because of the seeming social media "celebration of me" or "social celebrity" of mere participation. This "social celebrity" plays out in many ways, but here's a few that seem to stick in my cynical craw.

• Sudden rich perspective about a current event (e.g. Robin Williams death)
• "Look at me" volunteerism or giving
• Oversaturation of ideology or theology to the point where your thoughts are ignored like a nuisance
• The "I don't live out but vehemently share opinion about things" expression
• And, like the ALS Challenge, shallow understanding about something I believe that I believe

So I may be a cynic. I may be ignorant. I may even be an asshole.

Liking the Line of the Cinic
I am muddled between the fact that I am pretty darn confident about my opinion(s), but want to make sure I am teachable still. I do know a good bit. I've got 47 years on this planet. But as I continue to learn more and more, I don't know what I do not know.

I read in a book somewhere "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." So forgive me and I will you. Perhaps not even in that order.

My dear friend, Stephen Kee says (and I may be misquoting, but you'll get my/his drift) "I will try to understand your intention while I may not understand your action".

I am calling myself out. Calling myself out to know more, to learn more, to know others more. To never be untrue to the facts, to myself, to others, to God (as if He wouldn't know). To look for intention first. Even when I don't want to.