#8: Escaping the riptide of negativity

Doesn’t it seem as if the world is becoming angrier, louder, and more divided; that a strong current of negativity continues to pull us in that direction? This is both a symptom and manifestation of the negative energy that threatens to commandeer our consciousness and suck the joy and goodwill right out of us. Wouldn’t it be best if we all recognized and then acted as if life is too short and precious to cede control of our thought lives to things that lead to disintegration, hurt, dysfunction, and even self-destruction? So what are we to do? This episode is about stemming the flow or moving out of the tide of negativity that are angry, hurtful thoughts toward others and the anxiety, resentment, and despair that can threaten to drag us under when in the midst of challenging circumstances. And the key is taking hold of and applying some of life's truly animating principles. ATTRIBUTIONS “Discovery” from the album “Essence” by RRAREBEAR (Used by artist’s permission.) http://www.instagram.com/rrarebearbeats http://www.twitter.com/rrarebearbeats https://soundcloud.com/rrarebearbeats “I Cannot Accept You”, “Damage”, “Sleepwalking”, and “Through Mist” from the album “Haze” by Echo Grid (Used by artist’s permission.) https://www.instagram.com/echo_grid/ https://twitter.com/echo_grid https://echogrid.bandcamp.com C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2009), pp. 64, 130. Kindle Edition. Luke 10:25-37 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®