Have you ever wondered what God must think when he looks down on our world from above? Many say it is in anger, but I think He is definitely amused. From above, He can see the fighting, the wars, the political battles and the dissolution of the family. Humans are angry, stressed and, in short, mean. The churches are empty, but there are lines around the outlets to buy the latest iPhone. Schoolyards and backyards are empty as young people sit with their devices clicking on topics kids don’t understand, images they should never see, and ideas that are burned into their memories and can and often are used by emotionally young children who sometimes do not have the ability to see reality as opposed to a video game.

Video games are not only violent, but daily “dead” articles appear in the media and are streamed on handheld devices. Wars and political opponents are distorting the truth, insulting each other and using details that should remain behind closed doors at home. First graders pass through metal detectors and are subjected to “politically correct” questions by their teacher. Schools and government often hijack parental rights, including what children should eat and what families talk about at home for perhaps opposing views on issues. Teenagers are bullied on Facebook and girls hit each other at beaches and events. The clothes are beyond morals and the language has words that, as the saying goes, “sailors would blush.” Mom is tired after work and dad is stressed because workplaces don’t respect their workers and workers don’t respect their employers. Kids are taught that cops can hurt you and religion is out of date. Morality and virtues are from the Middle Ages and anything goes is today’s banner.

Children are emotionally, mentally, or physically unprepared for many things that are lost in their lapses at very young ages. Parents vent at home without realizing that the little ones listen to them. TV, car radio shows, newspapers, apps show violence as commonplace, and sadly it often is. It is the adults who notice the race in another, not a child. Children of many colors play on the swings, sit next to each other at school and play tag, not knowing the difference until an adult points them out and explains. Countries are demonized by the media and young people are told that certain countries are evil and their people are violent and dangerous. God is somewhere but adults don’t pray anymore. Faith is for Easter and Christmas, but there is no time during the rest of the year for such non-essential thoughts.

When respect is thrown overboard and children are told that if it feels good just do it, then we wonder why there is violence between preschool and elementary school children. Little girls dress like adults and amaze parents when a second grader has a “serious” friend. Basic necessities like food, water, and shelter can be dangerous to your health, as additives, disease, and even death are blamed on the basic elements of human life. Neighbors spy on neighbors, local government officials use the money for personal projects, and the federal government marvels at the wars, war machines, and death totals it inflicts on other nations. Mightmakesright is written in bold, but humanitarian needs and aid are somewhere in fine print and even outlawed for aiding an enemy.

God looks down on us and while he may be disappointed in what is happening, he is still betting that we will see the truth and go back to being people who work together, raising our families and respecting the little ones and the elderly. While he has every right to intervene, he has monumental patience with people who seem to knock themselves out running the world he created and still runs. A single government can never boast that its armed forces cause the destruction of another country like a single natural disaster can. Hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions take their toll without a single shot being fired. While we as a nation choose who and when we can destroy a land, homes and civilians. God is ready to declare that ALL life is precious and deserves respect and safety. We are neither judge nor jury, and we certainly do not have the right to issue death sentences or declarations of war against anyone else because they disagree with our policies. God is alive and well and has not relinquished his position or relegated authority to any one country, individual or issue. Young children are especially vulnerable as are the elderly. When God sees such wanton disregard for life at any stage, then his patience may run out, his remedies will be permanent, and whether we as humans agree or not, he will have the last word on everything. So the next time you see a severe storm approaching, take note of the power and energy that is not under our control. When his garden begins to grow, let him understand that every seed is under his control, and that the food supply, the water supply, and the daily necessities are under his control. When humanity recognizes that we are not God, we never will be and we will never match the power and strength of him, then let peace flourish on earth so that when God looks at us, He can smile and be proud of who and what we are.

©Arleen Schindler