The 1%.

No, not that 1%.

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I’m burdened by what I’m seeing.

On the news or in my Facebook feed, I see it all the time.

Tragic accidents.

Recurring or terminal diseases.

Gun violence.

The acts of pure evil.

I just can’t take it.

Tell me I’m not the only one.

It’s not like these things haven’t always been around. It’s just that now, we have more access to it.

It’s one thing to see these things happening around the world – affecting the lives of those in different states or distant countries. We may feel for you, but feeling for someone and feeling with someone are two different games.

But then something happens.

You see it happening in your city.

Your friend group.

Your family.

So what exactly do we do?

What can we do?

The 99%.

It’s so big.

As much as we may hate these odds, this is where most of life is lived.

This is where there’s suffering, heartbreak, injustices, evil, accidents and disease.

This is what we all fear and pray doesn’t happen to us.

This is the unknown.

And this is what we can’t control.

The 1%.

It’s so small.

Compared to the former, it seems laughable. Insignificant.

But this is where our thoughts, actions, words and deeds live.

This is our bubble.

And as small as it may be, this is what we can control.

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My prayers lately have been dry and desperate.

God, what are we supposed to do?

God, what do we say?

What do we even pray for?

Because surely another “I’m so sorry, I’m praying for you” just isn’t enough.

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I can’t control that 99%.

I wish I could.

It would save us all from a lot of hurt, sorrow and confusion.

It would prevent our bodies from deteriorating and turning against us.

It would stop those who follow in the footsteps of the father of lies.

But I can’t.

So instead, I’m deciding to take that 1% and do my absolute best with it.

To love those around me – whether I know them or not.

To be gracious, kind, generous and understanding – even when I feel like they don’t deserve it.

To fill my mind with the things that are true, pure, noble and of good report – especially in a time when the world bombards me with the exact opposite.

It may not seem like a lot.

But by purposely doing this – by taking control of that 1% – I believe that I’m doing a small part in positively affecting the lives of those who are suffering because of the 99%.

I can control that.

We can control that.

It doesn’t solve the troubles found in this dark world.

But it can be a light to it.