Ain't no quick fix at the end of a needle...

We live in an era where medical advances seem to be more outstanding with every year. Yet, there is no medical advance that can fix the evil in our world. Therefore, the question arises, what is evil and how do we fix it?

Evil permeates society at all ends. Sometimes it subtle. Sometimes it rears it's ugly head and makes its presence know to all around. Evil can simply be an ill spoken word that should have never been uttered. Evil can also be a drastic and devastating, senseless murder. Yet, evil no matter the size is still evil.

Why does evil exits?

The answer is simple evil exists because people allow it to. So, how do we fix the problem of allowing evil to exist in the world. The answer lies in the lyrics to a Garth Brooks song called "People Loving People."

"People Loving People"

Doctor, you ain't got a clue
For whatever's making this world blue
You can't get forgiveness at the store
And peace, it's a politician's war

You won't find no resolution in the bottom of a bottle
In the stars or Aristotle, the only answer to the problem is…

People loving people
That's the enemy of everything's that's evil
Ain't no quick fix at the end of a needle
It's just people loving people
Whoa, woah, woah, woah

Words aren't what they seem to be
Talk is cheap but lies are free
We fear what we don't understand
We've been scared since time began

All the colors and the cultures circle 'round us on a spindle
It's a complicated riddle, the solution is so simple…

It's people loving people
That's the enemy of everything's that's evil
Ain't no quick fix at the end of a needle
It's just people loving people
Whoa, woah, woah, woah

You can pawn it off on kings and queens and those behind the curtain
Say what can make a difference in a world so full of hurting
But I believe the remedy starts right here with you and me

People loving people
That's the enemy of everything's that's evil
Ain't no quick fix at the end of a needle
It's just people loving people
It's just people loving people
Whoa, woah, woah, woah
Whoa, woah, woah, woah
It's just people loving people

Evil is an ailment to the health and well-being of each individual. Luckily though, there's a cure for evil and it is people loving people. When I first heard this song on the radio, I brushed it off and was half-listening. The tune was catchy though and it stayed in my head. I've been thinking lately of why people just can't love one another and the song, in a weird but right-on-time way, popped back into my mind. I googled the lyrics and here I am.

These lyrics are so true. People want a quick fix to their problems in life, even those problems with their fellow man. When people start loving their fellow man as they should, their problems may not be solved quickly but I guarantee you they will be on a much quicker route.

I see families and friends who argue sometimes. I see politicians and bureaucrats argue too. They over-complicate their problems and point fingers at each other until they can't do it any longer. Then they wander: How do I fix this? The answer is simple: start loving one another!

The truest words in this song, in my humble opinion, are the ones that say, "Say what can make a difference in a world so full of hurting? But I believe the remedy starts with you and me."

Things do start with you and me. Things start with each individual. We can all make a difference in this world in so many ways, but perhaps the easiest way to make a difference is just by loving people. For, when we love people and they love us back, we send evil running away and love here to stay.

Go out and love people. Love all people-even the ones who don't love you back. I've always loved people and made it a point to try my best to see people for who they really are. I don't always accomplish my goal, but I know that the quick fix to evil is not at the end of a needle but in people loving people.

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!

Walking altruism avenue leads to happy street

Me-a two letter word used too much by society. Altruism- a big word that I've never heard of before. What do the words "me" and "altruism" have in common? The answer to that question is actually quite simple. They have nothing in common.

As I look around at the world today, I often find myself getting disgusted by the amount of attention that people give themselves. Everything seems to be about "me" "me" "me" Yet, if you ask each individual if they considered themselves a selfish or self-centered person, most would say that they aren't. That, in and of itself, is evidence of selfishness.

Altruism is a word that sounds quite complex. However, nothing is complex about it at all. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines altruism as: feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness. Perhaps though, many people do not even know what altruism is because it is not readily practiced.

As humans in a "me" society, sometimes it is easy to focus only on ourselves. Yet, we must look around and realize the value of others in our lives. I would be absolutely lost if not for the love and care shown to me by others.

I often find myself wrestling with ways in which I can help someone. I've always been this way and I'm thankful for that. I am this way because I know what it is like to experience trials and tribulations in life. I've walked a mile in my own shoes and a few more in the shoes of others.

The world would be a much better place if we all did more walking and less talking. We need to walk that extra mile to help a friend in need. We need to walk that extra mile in order to show someone we love them. We even need to walk that extra mile to show strangers that there is someone who cares.

I'm really not even sure to write what I'm thinking right now, but I know this much: I love people and I love people from all walks of life. I'm not sure all people feel this way and sometimes I find it hard to realize that not all people love those of different walks of life than their own. Yet, I also know that through my love for people of all walks of life I have discovered true happiness. I don't have to lay my head on my pillow at night and regret not trying to help a doctor or a homeless man, because I'm here to help them both.

I have a passion for people. I just can't describe it. Well, maybe I can: I must be walking Altruism Avenue because I'm as close as can be to Happy Street! Come and join me! You'll be on Happy Street before you know it!

No message could have been any clearer!

No message could have been any clearer! What message? The message I'm speaking of is in the one so vividly and appropriately displayed in Michael Jackson's "The Man in the Mirror" If you think about it, the average human looks in the mirror each day at least 3 times if not more. There are mirrors everywhere in our day-to-day travels. They're in our bedrooms, our bathrooms, bathrooms at work and on our cars. We also have emotional "mirrors" in life- moments when we take a look at ourselves and "make that change" if we need it.

So, my question tonight is this: Is a change needed in your life? Do you need to take that look in the mirror?

There are so many things we need to look at when we check out that guy or girl in the mirror. Let's allow the song to show us the way:

"Man In The Mirror"

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up The Collar On My
Favourite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street,
With Not Enough To Eat
Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See
Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard,
A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul
They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go
That's Why I Want You To
Know

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself, And
Then Make A Change)
(Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah)

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?

A Widow Deeply Scarred,
Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream
(Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of
The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place
To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With
Me
(Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm Asking Him To Change His
Ways
(Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make That . . .)
Change!

I'm Starting With The Man In
The Mirror,
(Man In The Mirror-Oh
Yeah!)
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While
You Got The Time)
('Cause When You Close Your
Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your
Mind!
(Then You Close Your . . .
Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That
Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror
(Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man
I'm Asking Him To Change
His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man
No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And
Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!)
Gonna Feel Real Good Now!
Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah!
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,
Na Nah
(Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .
I'm Gonna Make A Change
It's Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On!
(Change . . .)
Just Lift Yourself
You Know
You've Got To Stop It.
Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
I've Got To Make That Change,
Today!
Hoo!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Got To
You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .
Hoo!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get
That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To
You've Got To Move! Come
On! Come On!
You Got To . . .
Stand Up! Stand Up!
Stand Up!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift
Yourself, Now!
(Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aaow!
(Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .
Come On!
(Man In The Mirror)
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know It!
You Know . . .
(Change . . .)


Make That Change.

As I listened to this song this week, I came to see one thing in the mirror that I need to change. I'm very fortunate to have people in my life who care deeply for me. Sometimes, as the song states, I become a victim of a selfish kind of love. I allow myself to become engrossed in me and forget about others-maybe not in an extremely forgetful way-but I forget about emotions and feelings when it comes to others.

I try to be unselfish person, but I'm a firm believer that no matter how hard you try to be unselfish, you could always think of yourself a little less.

So, tonight as I listened to this song I have made a commitment to try harder, to make the world a better place and to look at myself and make a change!

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man!