Empty words & sentiment
There is nothing more useless in this world than sending thoughts and prayers.
There. I said it.
Every time there is a tragedy. When someone you know who lives far away experiences something awful. When politicians want to look like they are doing something… they all send Thoughts & Prayers.
I understand that for many, the healing power of prayer is a real thing. The idea that someone is praying for them brings them peace and comfort. For someone who is grounded in their faith, this may be the highest gift someone can give.
And I do not mean to disparage anyone’s beliefs, but offering only thoughts and prayers is horseshit. It’s horseshit when that person lives close and you could do something meaningful to help and it is utter and complete horseshit when it is a politician that is sending their thoughts and prayers because they are too chicken to actually legislate that very thing that resulted in your tragedy.
If you know someone whose parent died, or God forbid, their child, or they are ill or someone in their house is ill — for God’s sake DO something to help. Literally — for God’s sake, for He said as you have done to the least of us, so you have done to ME, therefore if you want to do good — go DO SOMETHING. Act. Serve. Offer. Hug. Sit with. DO something.
And if you are too far away and cannot do anything tangible, then at least have the bravery to say something like, ‘there are no words that I can say that will do you any good, but if you want to talk, I am always available to listen and I will listen as long as you need to talk.’ Be there for the other person. Do anything you can to bring them comfort.
We default to “thoughts and prayers’ because it is easy. Because we FEEL like we are doing something positive, but in reality we are doing literally nothing. We are not making meals, or lending a shoulder, or donating to a charity in their name, or anything. We do not have to invest any of our selves — of our time, of our resources — to that other person. It is a platitude, and in my opinion, is utterly worthless. Thoughts and prayers will not bring back those lost to gun violence. It will not fill the bellies of people who’ve lost their livelihoods. It will not heal the sick. It will not ease the burden of the family who is grieving a loved one.
Being in service to others? Making meals, or gathering needed items, or legislating for stricter laws to protect people from acts of violence? That just might.
My father had a poster in his office that I wish I had kept. It was a watercolor of JFK in a little row boat on the water. He was leaning over the boat, but what he was doing escapes me — fishing perhaps or releasing a fish back into the water. What struck me was the quote on the poster.
One man can make a difference.
And every man should try.
Forget the empty phrases. If you want to do good in this world, go forth and find good to do. It isnt hard if you look.
