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Ellen Debenport

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Force Yourself to Play This Game

Force Yourself to Play This Game

Last updated on: September 13, 2016 at 7:00 am by Ellen Debenport

Force Yourself to Play This Game 2016-09-11T07:55:26-05:00 Ellen Debenport

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It’s easy to be happy and chirpy and declare we should “See the good!” no matter what happens.

The sentiment is well-intentioned. Some of us do need to take a moment to remember there’s more good than bad in the world, even though the news continually draws our attention to the places where humanity is hurting and growing.

So today I’m offering a little game — you can play it alone or with friends — lest you forget there is good in everyone and everything.

Try this. You’ll feel better.

No, really, it’ll elevate your consciousness.

Okay, to make it really challenging, let’s focus on our political climate.

man with hands over face

photo by Soon on flickr

EXERCISE ONE

Name one good thing about the presidential candidate you most dislike.

Oh, c’mon, you can do it! These can be very simple and small things.

If you hate Hillary Clinton, you might acknowledge she is a doting grandmother.

If you are appalled by Donald Trump, notice that he has riveted the nation’s attention onto our political process. You’re not hearing anything about “voter apathy” this year.

What other good can you find in a candidate whose election you think might destroy the country?

EXERCISE TWO

Name one good thing about the political party you don’t understand.

Maybe you don’t like any of the parties. To get the most from this exercise, pick the one you feel most negatively about, and find something they’ve done that made a positive contribution.

Or maybe you don’t know much about the parties.

Democrats came up with Social Security and Medicare, if you think that’s positive. A Republican president freed the slaves.

You might have to do a little research for this, and what a concept! Go online to look for something good about people you disdain.

You can find something.

EXERCISE THREE

Think about a Supreme Court ruling you believe was a travesty – Roe v. Wade, maybe, or Citizens United – and ask, How could this be happening FOR us? What is the good that could come from it?

This is about balance. Nothing is all bad.

VARIATIONS

If the state of the country isn’t bothering you, you may play this game by substituting scenarios from your own life:

What good can you find in a relative you believe might actually threaten the well-being of your family?

What positive contribution has been made by the cranks in your homeowners’ association or those bossy moms in your child’s school?

How could an apparently unfair decision by someone in authority (boss, minister, judge) end up working in your favor?

WHY AM I DOING THIS?!

You see the lesson of this game, right?

No other person is more or less divine than you are.

Sure, their divine light might be hard to see. That’s why you’re taking a few minutes to look for it.

I’m increasingly convinced we all chose to be here together at this time because we had so much to learn from each other.

It might take some effort. But no matter how fractious we are right now, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity.

presidential campaign

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