I look around and it can be disheartening.  I see a culture that has fast-tracked our nation’s departure from Biblical truth and morals.  I hear and read media that seem to spend their time reporting just a snippet of news then using hours to find out just how much they can trash the other side.  I consider the apathy of Christians and wonder how they coast along in their lack of true commitment and service to the Savior they profess to know.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.  And the real problem is that all this seems to be hurtling along unchecked, carrying us deeper and deeper into the problem.  As I look around, I find it easy to slip into that dreaded “Elijah Syndrome” seen in 2 Kings 19 when God’s prophet felt alone in his devotion and supremely sorry for himself.  But this morning, I looked around again.  And I saw that the sun was still shining.  The azaleas and other spring flowers were still blooming.  The birds were still singing.  And I thought of the words of Christ in Matthew 6: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”  Do you know what I’m going to do?  I’m going to look around at those things Jesus talked about and consider the Heavenly Father that is not disheartened nor diminished by what’s happening in this world.  No, I won’t ignore the mess, but I’m going to keep my eyes on the Messiah.  How about you?