Bear with me through the definitions. I promise it gets better!

Three of the basic definitions of “humanity,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

1:  compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition : the quality or state of being 

2:  the quality or state of being human

3:  the totality of human beings : the human race : HUMANKIND

So the commonality is that we are all part of the human race, composed of the same metabolic materials, along with physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual components.

But add just one letter to “human” – an “e” at the end of the word. Human suddenly becomes “humane,.” And the definition changes:

1: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals

As humans, we are not all humane, as has been evidenced since the beginning of time through wars, racism, entitlement, class structures & caste systems, power plays – and the list could go on.

With the wealth of information at our fingertips, and a plethora of entertainment choices at our disposal, there leaves a lot to be desired as to what is actually entertaining or inspiring.

During times of channel surfing I decided to watch some of the channels that appealed to me decades ago when life seemed simpler. As I’ve watched one old late-night talk show in particular, I came to several realizations.

1. Much of what was once considered humor is no longer funny.
2. There was a lot of sexist behavior that was considered “acceptable” for the times
3. A lot of those people are dead

Hey, no disrespect intended for #3.

But the realization that hit me the most was this: Humanity is still dealing with the same issues from decades ago, and much longer.  Over the course of several months I’ve listened to the host’s monologues, and the topics of conversation are all the same as they are today:

Conflict in the Middle East, wars and rumors of war, U.S. presidential elections, inflation, racism, gas gouging, taxes, and the national debt.

I don’t know why the realization surprised me so much. As I thought about it, two things came to mind.

1. I’ve become more socially conscious. Shame on me for not loving History class or Social Studies in school. I could blame it on a boring teacher or the fact that I thought some of it was too complex for me to understand. But I could have also done my own research or tried to learn things in a more interesting way. And let’s face it, the part of being human without humane is that a lot of us don’t start looking more at a certain cause unless it directly affects us or someone we know. Then we jump on the bandwagon and try to learn as much about it as we can.
2. As a young adult, I felt hope for the future – that things would get better. And I felt protected within the nucleus of my family, church, and friends that we would all get through tough times.

But going back to my third realization a few paragraphs ago, part of life is death. And the fact of the matter is that a lot of my family are no longer here. Or have moved away. I’VE moved away. And with all that’s gone on in the world over the last two years surrounding a virus that’s been used to keep us away from our family, friends, churches, restaurants and other places where we socialize, it has taken its toll. ON ALL OF HUMANITY.

I no longer have a lot of the cushion around me that kept me feeling protected. And when you have lived a number of years, you can get jaded that things as a whole will get better. For me, much of what has happened in the world and to me personally over the last two years, has forced me to live within each day. This is something on which I’ve been a work-in-progress for a number of years. Progress has been slow.

What living in each day has accomplished for me is that even if I have an outline in my mind of what I think my day will look like, I am still sensitive to God’s promptings if He takes me in another direction. And I’m so much more appreciative of the little things that I previously took for granted.

And with all of the streams of information coming at us 24/7, it is we who have to be discerning about what we watch, who we listen to, who we trust. A few are in control of the narrative that millions see. Trust your instincts. If something inside you doesn’t seem right or logical – even if it’s from sources you’ve always trusted – think twice before you make decisions or alter your life in a way that can’t be undone.

Realize that as humans, we all share something. Reserve judgment for powermongers and evildoers, many of whom are not humane, even to the people for whom they govern. When you see conflict in another country, don’t have the attitude, “Better them than me.” Instead, pray for them and offer whatever help you are able to the best of your ability.

Remember that it’s not a particular country that’s bad – it’s generally its leaders gone astray. Leaders who live differently than its country’s citizens. Leaders who are independently wealthy. Leaders who can afford a different level of healthcare than its citizens. Leaders who aren’t affected by the taxes and policies they impose.

As people who are part of the human race, we all really want the same things. To have the basics of shelter, food, and clean water. To live in a safe place. To be in good health and to have access to good healthcare. Freedom of speech and the right to defend ourselves. To have relationships that are meaningful to us – even if we have differing religious views, different-colored skin, or don’t make as much money as someone else. And also to hold true to our values without disrespecting those of others. Look for common ground.

This is a time for humanity to band TOGETHER and to fight the things in this world that take our humaneness away. It’s all part of God’s plan for humanity. He has a plan to save us and to restore things to the way He originally intended. This is an opportunity for us to rely on Him. And don’t let yourselves become distracted by all the narratives out there that are designed to confuse us and keep us divided. We are living in such a time as this. Change happens one person at a time. Let’s unite!