The building of the good
Fall slows me down, invites what I believe is essential to staying healthy and whole: reflecting, processing, and digesting.
This seems more vital than ever now we’re bombarded with information at every moment, from every direction. I find myself wondering, as I often do: 
- - Am I taking time to reflect and practice discernment?
- - Am I inquiring after truth, both with myself and with others?
- Am I focused on increasing what’s good, especially when the news can seem so bad?
I’m attracted by ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s urging, “Rush to share glad tidings; be in no hurry to share bad news.” Might that be because good news empowers us and bad news does just the opposite?
In a world that’s a mixture of ups and downs, “bad” news is often incomplete or invalid — frequently just a stage in a process of change that may turn out to be for the good. Sort of like autumn, then winter … both of which are necessary for each new spring and summer. 
Emphasizing a situation’s awfulness can paralyze our will, which keeps many of us from making the kinds of contributions that we could. There can be a near-addiction to sharing “bad” news, and dwelling upon it, and that can dishearten us, and put out the fire in our resolve.
Socrates has been credited with a fine mechanism for filtering out this dampening force from our lives. It’s said the philosopher was approached one day by an acquaintance who couldn’t wait to tell him something.
He asked first: was it true, was it good, and was it likely to be of benefit to the hearer?
That last element, in particular, seems like an essential part of responsible speech and action right now.
Excerpted from: Life at First Sight: Finding the Divine in the Details -
Photos courtesy Nelson Ashberger.
