Reality Check

September 15, 2025

Let’s talk.

Turn off the TV and close your social media feed for a moment.

What is the state of the world today? Think it through.

                  Ok, now that you’ve concluded what the state of affairs is, answer this: “Says who?”

Is your conclusion based on what you’ve been told, what you have seen on TV, what pushes your buttons, or based on the reality around you as filtered by your rational mind. Most thoughtful people would say, “I have reviewed the available input and, based on my thought processes, this is the conclusion.”

Problem: Most of the “news” in the world today is bad news. Unless you seek out news feeds that report on the progress of humanity, the loving acts being perpetrated by millions of people in every country, the happy gathering of friends and families all over the world, then your view will likely be that we are on the road to ruin. Newsrooms famously say, “If it bleeds, it leads.” Meaning that the headlines will be the most outrageous ones.

A few years ago, the most frequently used word in the English language was “Hillary Clinton.” Every news broadcast opened with it. Currently it has been “Donald Trump.” As I write this it is “Charlie Kirk.” Every station, every commentary, every major event has been talking about the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the thirst for more input is immense. Of course, we are brought together, attention-wise, when a major public figure is harmed. I mourn with the Kirk family. It is appropriate and natural for us to grieve. But that is not the state of the world. It is one singular event in a world of vital activity.

Take a look around you for a moment. If practical, step outdoors. Pause and breathe. Doesn’t life look generally peaceful and normal? If you’re not in an active war zone, I suspect that chaos, hatred, danger and despair are not common. Widely reported? Of course, but not common.

Yesterday I gathered with a hundred or so of my friends and family to attend a church service. Our pastor observed, “This is a happy place.” And he was right. Some families asked for prayers due to illness, injury or other common challenges, but, overall, it was a happy place. We listened to a sermon about how blessed we are and how we can live an even better life. We sang Happy Birthday to some members, shared stories of celebration or encouragement, enjoyed humor and expressed sympathy. We supported and loved each other over lunch and parted with a warm feeling in our hearts. This was not unique to our little church here in Texas. Similar experiences were being shared by tens of millions of people in millions of churches, schools and communities around the world. But nobody reported on it.

My wife and I watched a movie last night and enjoyed a meal together. No drama, no injury, no fear, just two people who love each other sharing some quality time. Tonight, we will dine with friends at a favorite restaurant: good food, lovely people, great setting, no fear. Yes, we are blessed, and we are thankful for it. Many others do not have that privilege. There have been times in my own life when I, too, was struggling with debt, fear, self-doubt, loss, betrayal, and heartbreak. But it wasn’t the main state of affairs. It was my situation for a time, and I dealt with it. There are problems but they aren’t the norm. I’m officially a “senior” now in all the usual ways. My body doesn’t do all the things I need it to do. My life expectancy is much shorter than before, but those are minor things compared to the overwhelming positive factors in my life.

There are crazy people out there. Many of them are caught in an insane spiral of hatred and fear. Some of them are violent. But they are the rare exception, not the rule. Most people are good and do not wish harm on others. In a huge football crowd, most everyone is generally happy and peaceful. Noisy, yes, but peaceful in their intent. They gather to express their tribal impulses and feel the thrill of competition. It is a happy place. The same is true for concerts and conventions. We come to have fun or to learn and grow.

Now back to the news. There is war in the middle east, in Ukraine, in Africa and elsewhere. There always has been, but it wasn’t reported worldwide on an hourly basis. People are hateful and people are dying unnecessarily. We should do what we can to help them, but this isn’t the main state of the world.

Notice More! If you are near a nature area, look at the water, the trees, the flowers, the earth. See the birds, insects, sunlight or stars. Feel the comfort of the chair, the conditioned air, the light available on demand. Look at the tools and conveniences all around you. Ball point pens, leather shoes, plates, spoons, glasses. Keep it going. Consider the clothing you own. How many extra items do you possess?

Most homes in America have garages, basements, attics and storage filled with perfectly good but unused items. There is more wealth in boxes and closets than some countries have in entire communities! We are blessed! We are rich in ways that prior generations didn’t even dream. We are so privileged that we have to intentionally exercise in order to stay fit. Our forebears got their exercise daily through their work. And it was…work! Now we jog or treadmill or bike to stay fit.

What is the state of the world today?

It is a happy place. To make it happier, please do what you can to help others and to eliminate dangers. Stop the hate at its source: you. Pray for your enemies and adversaries, may they be at peace. Give when you can and encourage others. Most of the angry dangerous people in the world are expressing pain. Help diminish the number of times when anyone feels ignored, excluded, judged, shamed or betrayed.

“Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.”