This world is crazy. A tilt-a-whirl in a county fair, spinning so fast it feels like you're about to fly off. We live on a planet full of horror stories, ladybugs, storm clouds, tears, and flowers. A planet where children die, tornadoes devastate, and people we love break our trust. But a planet where sunlight makes rainbows with clouds, people are wiling to try again, and oak trees grow from air and water and sunlight. This is a planet of miracles. It's a planet of living, moving, breathing art painted by a Master Artist. Of ladybugs and sunshine and rain showers and love.
One kid sits on the tilt-a-whirl, clinging to his seat, his eyes are wide and his knuckles are white. And all he can hear is a voice yelling, "What if you spin off?"
Another kid sits across from him, her eyes are closed and she's laughing. She feels the wind in her face and the way her stomach is doing flips and she's loving it.
One kid can't stop looking at the storm clouds, the tornadoes, the earthquakes. He can't even begin to think about the sunshine and the wind tickling his face, because he can't let go of his fear.
We sit here, on this tilt-a-whirl of a planet and we imagine everything that could go wrong. We step outside our door and read hate in everyone's eyes and catastrophe around every bend.
Wake up. Open your eyes before you die. See the ladybugs, feel the breeze on your face, recognize the incredible miracles that are happening all around you. Read the love in people's eyes. Have faith in humanity. Sing. Ride this tilt-a-whirl like you're an eight year-old. And laugh. Laugh until you see the sun behind the cloud. Laugh until life is something to smile about. Laugh until you can't help but love people. Until riding this tilt-a-whirl is your favorite thing to do.
