Do the next right thing

“When things don't go your way, you've got to keep trying to do the right things.” ~Dele Alli

I’m watching the legislative session quite a lot these days and today it occurred to me to wonder what all these legislators do when it feels like nothing they propose is going through. How do they pick themselves up each day to go to their committee meetings, present their bills, speak on the floor, review everything on which they need to formulate positions….when it feels like their purpose is obstructed? Very few jobs entail the constant exposure to rejection that our lawmakers face.

Whether the title of this blog post makes you think of Kristen Bell and Frozen, or of the tenants of addiction recovery, it’s good advice, yeah? Heck, it’s the only advice.

Sometimes the strategy is simply picking yourself up off the ground, dusting yourself off, and putting one foot in front of the other (in the right direction). Truth be told, we don’t always know the right direction, which is why it’s especially important to be committed to trying to do the right thing.

We can’t predict exactly where that tornado will hit or whether the hurricane will veer up the East Coast or into the Gulf (yay, Louisiana). We can only remain vigilantly devoted to our ethical framework, moral compass, and The Golden Rule.

“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. . . .” ~Matthew (7:12)

The next right thing is always the decision or movement based in love. Always. Love your maker. Love your family. Love your neighbor. Love.

So, like I said, I’m not sure what our legislators do when they’re feeling especially defeated. Probably whatever they do for stress relief at the end of the day. Those with active other jobs during session have to deal with those, of course. Those with families must tend to their folks.

And then, the next day, they must return to the Capitol…hopefully with renewed determination to do the next right thing. If they can do it each day, can’t each of us occasionally?