By Danny Minton

“If you look for the bad in people, expecting to find it, you surely will.” (From the movie Pollyanna)

Well, this is the fourth time I have used this phrase in my writings, and it probably won’t be the last. I guess I’ll keep putting it out there to remind us, and especially myself, that I need to keep looking at those around me and life through the eyes of Jesus.

The World Cup has given us reminders of the life we live. I don’t watch much soccer, although our son played along with our granddaughter and nieces. However, I haven’t seen a full soccer match in years. But what I want us to think about is not the game, but the eyes—the eyes of many of those who have come to this country for the first time.

It’s been interesting listening to them and the things they are saying about America. Many are blown away by the simple things that we take for granted. They’ve talked about how the portions of food are so big and how they love BBQ, Blue Bell, and “biscuits and gravy.” They are taken aback when they eat out that you get free refills on your drinks. They are amazed by the size of grocery stores and places like Walmart, Target, and Buc-ees. One player from South Africa said he could walk down public streets without worrying about being attacked. Many spoke of walking through neighborhood after neighborhood, with no gates or fences to keep you from going from place to place. Of course, there were negative comments, but by far, visitors from other countries went home with a different view of this country than what their news media showed.

The negative side of our country is what most people see through social media, news broadcasts, talk shows, newspapers, and other forms of communication today. I’m not sure it’s any worse than the past; it’s just that it’s so easy to put it out in front of everyone and, in many cases, express your feelings anonymously. As far back as I can remember, it all came to light for me when JFK was elected president. Everyone since has been judged by a growing world of media. 

Our visitors have shared that there is a lot of good in where we live. As the little phrase from Pollyanna says, if we look for the bad, we’re going to see it. The problem is that we spend so much time looking at what we don’t like that we fail to be thankful for the way we are blessed.

When I look at the life of Jesus and the places he walked, I see him constantly telling people, through both words and actions, to open their eyes to the good, the opportunities, and the blessings around them. He reminds us not to worry about everything, but to trust in God the Father. When he looked at people, he saw them through the eyes of love and compassion. The ones he had problems with were the ones who spent their time looking at everything wrong. 

We usually tape the news, and when we watch it, we skip the negative politics and comments. Once I snoozed for 30 days, all those on Facebook who were ranting about democrats and republicans and all the negative. Don’t get me wrong, but when we constantly bombard our minds with the negative, it can change our attitude. I know it’s there, but the best way to change is to start changing our attitudes, quit complaining, and, in our little part of the world, start doing and sharing what’s good about where we live.

One of my favorite media spots is “On the Road” with Steve Hartman. It shows the good side of America and the good in people. I saw one teacher use these with his kids, and it has changed their lives and how they see people. There needs to be more media programs like this that remind us that the world can be a better place if we look for the good, expecting to find it.

I don’t agree with everything that goes on with our government on both sides of the aisle or in the White House. I’ll continue to vote, sometimes wisely and sometimes with regret, but in the end, my voice will matter little to them. So my thoughts become, “even though I can’t change them, I can help make the little world I live in better. I do this by learning to open my eyes and look at what is going on around me. We should all open our eyes and view our world with the eyes of Jesus, seeing the positive part of even those with whom we don’t agree. Changing the world for the better begins with how we change our little corner.

If I constantly look for the bad, I’ll find it. It’s all around. However, if I look for the good, it’s there too. Our choice determines the kind of world we want around us. It all begins with our choosing to see things through the eyes of the world or the eyes of Christ. Through whose eyes will you see? Choose wisely.

Danny Minton, a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ, is a hospital chaplain