Have We become a Nation of Chronic Haters?

1 Thessalonians 5:10-12New International Version (NIV) says:

¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,just as in fact you are doing.

I myself realize that the Super Bowl has not always chosen the best half-time performers. But this year, things just got down right political. Some of the comments I have read:

1. Beyoncé is a racist.
2. The show glorified homosexuality.
3. Beyoncé has nerve performing with blonde hair.
4. Beyoncé doesn’t even understand the plight of the underprivileged.
5. Coldplay sucked.

I am sure glad that I didn’t see any negative comments about Bruno Mars or the gloves surely would’ve come off. Just kidding! Though I am  a Bruno Mars aficionado…

I really had to get off of social media for a few days. Not just due to the negative comments about the performers but all the negativity coming off the Super Bowl in and of itself. Cam Newton haters, Peyton Manning haters, Beyoncé haters, colorful paper haters…

Super Bowl XXXIV (2000)

There were many talented performers that day. Just not enough good music.  I headed over to my dad’s room where he was watching with my little brother.  “That show was lame, almost embarrassing.”, I said. My dad looked up at me, smiled and softly asked: “You didn’t like it?”. Well, this just crushed me.

You see, my dad had terminal liver cancer. This would most surely be the last Super Bowl he would ever watch. My dad did what he did best, he admired talent. The talent might not have been his usual Beatles-loving style, but he indeed held an appreciation for all things art. My dad was NOT a critic. Beauty was surely in the eye of the beholder.

This was a trait I had always admired in him. I felt that I had fallen short of this man and I would try harder.

After the Super Bowl had ended, my little brother went to play with his friends and my dad asked me to tuck him into bed. It was a particularly cold, rainy day and the  house my dad and brothers lived in had insufficient heat.

Tucking my dad in, I looked down on him with love and appreciation for the man he was. He smiled at me through his pain and said: “I don’t have much longer.” I didn’t want to hear that. I didn’t want to visit him too often because then maybe we could keep him longer.

That Super Bowl indeed was the last one he would see. Three days later, he was taken to the hospital and would not be coming home. It took a couple more weeks before we said our final goodbyes to my dad, as he took his last breath.

I have chosen to honor my father by remaining positive to all God’s creation. To view art and entertainment with non-judgmental eyes. If we were to imagine watching a performance as if it were our last time, would we be so negative? Would we be so hateful? My loving spirit says no.

I know it is unrealistic to expect everyone to be positive 100% of the time. This would surely throw off the universal balance. But maybe, we could strive to be less judgmental of others and view each other as someone’s parent, child, sibling or friend. We might develop loving eyes toward all of God’s children.  I hope so.

Stay Blissful My Friends! – E

Featured Image Source: ABC News