Shoot With a Camera!

Shoot With a Camera!

by Allen Merritt (©2017)

There is no doubt it takes a strong constitution to remain positive in light of ongoing chaos. It’s challenging to say the least. I read an online post this morning which conveyed how this individual usually tries to keep everything on a positive note, but how this is the hardest time in his life to do so.

I understand.

Yesterday another shooter attacked a small country church in Texas.

Earlier this week, a man went on a rampage in New York City and randomly killed people out biking, running, walking and enjoying an otherwise beautiful day.

It wasn’t that long ago where one man rained gunfire down on a concert just three miles from where I live.

On it goes and no one does anything about it in the way of taking measures to reduce the possibility of these events from taking place. (This is not a post about gun control, right to bare arms or any amendment. It’s about seeing clearly and knowing what to do.)

Here is what I notice. People are angry. People are hurting. People are lost in their own mental fog and then are imploding in such a fashion it impacts anyone and everyone in their pathway.

And it isn’t just random shootings. Law enforcement is caught in the act of shooting to kill without question or investigation. Ultimately, people die. Families are losing loved ones.

Positivity is always a work in progress for anyone, especially in today’s world.

How does one feel safe going out in public?

It’s a big question and it comes without a guarantee.

This week I found myself in another situation which I felt was shady and uncertain considering recent/ongoing shootings and terrorist attacks. A group of people behaving unusually were working around me at a local conference. They purposefully spoke in another language. I wasn’t sure if it was Hebrew or Arabic from a distance. One was on a phone speaking angrily. They were selling skin care products, which was odd considering it was a nursing organization. They served no purpose being there. Then I noticed there was another table of similar individuals selling electronics (cell phone accessories). This caused me to consider all the cell phone bombs used today. Then more people showed up until I counted at least eight. I observed two of them performing daily prayer rituals.  Then I walked past the leader and he looked straight into my eyes and all I saw was pure darkness. It pierced me to the point of wondering what I should do. What was going on, I wondered?

I began questioning whether or not to report them. I did not want to overreact. I reached for peace in the situation. Could this be a serious situation? I located exits and had small discussions to investigate. On the one hand I do not want to stereotype people or put them in a box. On the other hand, when I add up all the variables which were out of place in this scenario, something was off. Something was wrong. I have felt this way before when I had another similar experience on a plane leaving San Francisco the day of the Paris attack and observed highly questionable activity.

I share these experiences to point to the idea that it isn’t easy to know what to do or how to be objective. However, when there is an uncomfortable feeling, don’t ignore it. Go within and calmly reason through it. Be mindful, prayerful and contemplative toward a positive outcome and truth seeking.

For me, instead of simply looking outside of myself and thinking, ‘What is going on?” This time I decided to go inside and think thoughts like, “What should I do? What can I do? What is best to do? How can I help?”

I reached out to others to ask them to send good thoughts and energy, to join me in a partnership toward a peaceful outcome.

Interestingly, my feelings were not such that some major event took place that day as it did in Texas and NYC this week. But it did turn out some shady events were going on with this group in the exhibit hall and they were conducting unethical business practices which were scamming other innocents in the mix.

Keeping life on a positive note may mean not ignoring your feelings, but paying attention to them. If your gut is telling you to look into a situation or walk the other way, it may prove to be the most positive experience of your life.

In light of all who have suffered these great atrocities, I hope we can come together in support of life sustaining measures to prevent such madness.

For me, I tend to walk away from people who I visually see carrying guns in public.

Today, I simply wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences. I am thankful for each day, but I hurt for those who needlessly have theirs cut short.

As I watched the news, I tired of listening to reporters ask questions they know for a fact have no answers and would impede investigation. As I scrolled through social media posts, I see people speaking out and some were tired of hearing politicians send prayers instead of taking action.

Personally, I think prayer and good thoughts/vibes toward pursuing healing, happiness, positivity and the like are a strong aide in moving past and forward into the next moment, but I also think stronger measures need to be discovered and implemented toward controlling that which is currently out of control: people accessing and handling weapons of all kinds of destruction.

Go ahead. Send your prayers. Pray without ceasing. Seek peace in the midst of the storm that will surpass any and all understanding and then work hard to overcome and to achieve actions that benefit the better part of the whole while promoting and supporting life, loving and living.

If you want to shoot a thing, grab a camera. Take a picture of something beautiful. Make a meaningful movie. Plant a flower bulb, water it and watch the shoot bloom into a wondrous act of life.  All lives matter. Let’s get behind that.

Go out there and be the best you can be right here and right now and have a positive week despite it all.

Cheers!