A few weeks ago a beautiful light went out in my life. My brother and best friend died. He will be missed. After the pain and sorrow settled down I began to think about things. How short life really is. How little time we really have to be with the one's we love. In a quick snapshot of the world today we have people struggling to be free in the Mideast. We have new countries being formed in North Africa(Tunisia). We have all kinds of struggles being fought, won, lost and relived. It's in your world, your town, your street and your house. It doesn't matter if your Muslim, Gay, Straight, Christian, Republican, Canadian, American, Tunisian or Egyptian. It's the human experience and welcome to it. It can be the most amazing thing in the world or the worst. Your choice and you make it everyday when you wake up. It's like the magnet on my father's refrigerator says "May I be the kind person my dog thinks I am". But it's so much more than a magnet or cute saying. Live it, find it and cherish it. Take a moment to consider the other side of the tracks. What if you weren't given opportunities like your neighbors because of how or what you believed? What if the country you lived in didn't listen or hear you? What if they didn't even care? What if the love of your life wasn't given the opportunity to say "I do" just because of how they were born or who they were? What if you lived a life scorned because of who you were with? What if you were under persecution because you believed in Muhammad and not Jesus? Or vice versa? What if you were laughed at because you wore traditional clothes from your country? What if people judged you based on the actions of others who believe like you? What if in one horrible day some mad men smeared your religion and way of life with violence? What if you no matter hard you fought you weren't given a chance? What if you got turned down for jobs because English wasn't your first language? What if you were like that? What if you were that person? What if you were clouded by your own prejudices? What if you let your own narrow sightedness keep you from the most wonderful relationships in your life? What if you do that? Take a moment and think. Does it matter what that person in your mirror looking back at you believes? Does it matter what or who you love? Beneath all the makeup, clothes and labels is someone out there just like you. They're brushing their teeth and washing their face. They are looking in the mirror and past it. They're looking for someone just like you are. They are looking for that one person to be a friend, a brother, or sister. Will you reach out and find a reflection of yourself in them? It's your choice. I pray you make the right one.
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