From the Office of President Joe Fisher
Right now we are hearing about how divided we are as a people, as a nation. We are bombarded with the absolute insistence that we are divided. We are told that this group of people are radical socialists or that these people are radical racists. Everywhere we look the networks, social media, and politicians reinforce one of these narratives and show us their evidence to back it up. We are told that if the other group, whoever it is, were to get in power, that our country as we know it would cease to exist. Let us ask ourselves one question; who really is the arbiter of truth?
The answer is encouraging. It is not the media and it is not the politicians. It is us; it is you and I.
The truth is the American people and our ideology is spread across a traditional bell curve with 80 plus percent of us living in the middle, together. There are radical socialists and there are radical racists at the extremes, but those with the self-granted “voices” want us to see the world through the extremes. Imagine if we took control of our own hearts and minds and instead of relying on a narrative provided from any sole source we decided to really search for the truth.
It is right in front of our face. We need to look no further than Hallmark. Our HU family represents America with a nice San Antonio twist. Are we really who the external sources of information are telling us we are? Are we really so divided that we can’t even stand to look at each other, can’t agree on anything, can’t live together, work together, cry or laugh together? No. Now look at San Antonio, are we not a community that lives and works together every day? Rhetorically, how many of us have spent the last few years believing that our community and all of America was on the verge of civil war? It seems real doesn’t it? It can be if we allow our hearts and minds to have their realities defined by someone other than ourselves.
The opportunity I believe we have is to take control of the narrative individually in our own lives and collectively as Hallmark University. I pledge not to let anyone make me hate someone else. I am not going to let anyone tell me that up is down, north is south, heaven is hell, or that wrong is right. Instead, I am going to listen to multiple sources, seek and learn the truth that is front of me, and then decide what I believe. This is the example we can set for all those we have direct connections with.
There is one other thing, however, that I also think gives us an opportunity to exponentially impact our world. It is also completely consistent with biblical principle. That thing is love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
Let’s take control of our own hearts and minds and leverage love to unite instead of divide.
-Joe Fisher, President and CEO of Hallmark University