“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”
- Albert Einstein
I made this decision for the first time years ago.
For my money, we live in a friendly universe. I've been blessed with a few deep and lasting friendships, and what I've learned about friendship is that it is based on love, respect, and a deep concern for the well being of one another. The universe in which I live (and which we all share regardless of how we see it) is founded on and held together by that same kind of love. Love with a capital 'L'. Like a good and true friend, it sees us for who we are and loves us in spite of ourselves. It wants the best for us and will offer up limitless support if we will only open our hands and our hearts to its help.
What we look for determines what we see, and what we look for is determined by our answer to this "most important decision." If we look for evidence that we live in a hostile universe, we will find it everywhere. In traffic, the media (social and otherwise), our places of employment, in the checkout line at the grocery store, and definitely inside our own heads and hearts. The world is out to harm us and we'd better armor up. If, on the other hand, we look for evidence that we live in a friendly place, we will find evidence of it everywhere. To be honest, this is easier said than done for me on many days, but if I choose this lens through which to look at the world, I find evidence of this friendly universe in traffic, the media (social or otherwise), our places of employment, the checkout line at the grocery store, and, inside my own head and heart. The world is out to help me and I'd better gear up. What goes around, comes around. And we keep that cycle going based on how we see the world.
This isn't a small decision.
This isn't a one-and-done kind of thing.
It is a monumental decision.
It is made multiple times, usually on a moment-by-moment basis.
In this moment, what say you? Friend of Foe?
Your answer will make all the difference.
