The Un-Finished Sentence

Too often I have heard people say, “We live in a great country; it’s not perfect, but …”

And they leave it at that. An unfinished sentence.

But what? It’s not perfect, but we just ignore that un-perfect part? But we choose not to acknowledge certain issues? But it’s not happening to me so it’s not important?

It’s not perfect, but what can you do?

Then, some people become defensive, offended even, when the imperfect parts are brought to the forefront.

Well, there is so much in our perfect world, our perfect country, our perfect city, and our perfect neighborhoods that is imperfect.

Pope Francis has said he prefers a Church which is bruised and dirty from having been out on the streets; that we need to come out of our comfort zones – leave our schools, churches and homes – and go out to confront illness, poverty, racism, ignorance, injustice; in other words, all those elements of humanity which are messy. All those things which make people not experiencing them, uncomfortable. Offended, even.

But how—from the comforts of our schools, our churches, and our homes—can we address all these things? 

It is not so hard; as with most things, it begins by standing on what is good, opening our eyes to the not so good, and making changes right here in our schools, our churches and our homes. And during the process—by making it about others and not about us—in big matters and in small, in political arenas and in sporting ones, the good has the potential to become even better.

So, fill in the blank with whatever is your circumstance (city, school, church, home, family, government) and finish the sentence: It’s a great country; it’s not perfect, but … but there’s room for improvement; but we need to make some changes; but we can be better. 

Finish the sentence. And it starts from there.