“To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.” ― Elie Wiesel

Walking through my days, I bump against things that upset me.

“It’s just not right,” I think to myself. I might even mumble it out loud. Then I shrug and walk quickly past. I’m on my way to the urgent. This can wait for another day.

Yet, I’m proud I noticed at all, when most seem so unaware. Indifference keeps us safe. As the saying goes, “Just stick to the knitting to avoid any hassles in life,” right?

But it’s the actual indifference that is wrong. That’s the thing not right. It’s my indifference needs fixin’.

So that’s where I’ll start.

I’ll welcome the stranger: the homeless on the park bench and the face at the end of the pew. I’ll pick up the trash: the tire in the ditch and the Starbucks cup mindlessly tossed.

I’ll stop walking past the important on my way to the urgent. Hopefully, this new knitting will begin to mend my indifference.

Nowhere is it written that I should just leave the world how I find it.

A new year with a new intention, “To welcome the stranger and pick up the trash.”

Greetings 2018. We’re glad you’re here. We’ll fix a fresh spot for you to stay all year.

As always, the conversation starts here.

“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran