America's Bad Mood

OK, we are all talking about the rudeness we encounter daily, the ill-tempered people who don't listen, talk over us, step on our toes, blast our ears with noise pollution and cut us off in traffic.  It has become quite fashionable to discuss how rude everyone is - everyone but me, that is - so I will join the discussion here and get in with the in crowd. 

While I do find people less gracious than in times past, the most profound change I have noticed is the moodiness of people and the incredible rarity of finding someone not on some kind of mood altering drug.  Have you noticed that?  I have a news flash for the psychiatric community...the drugs are not working!  Give them cigarettes. 

Recently I had a white light experience I will not share to protect the guilty and the innocent.  I became acutely aware of the fact that an (at the moment) bossy, self-righteous, ill-tempered person had quit smoking and was suffering the agony of withdrawal.  I understand these things as a recovering alcoholic.  I used to throw clothes hangers in the morning when they got tangled.

Don't get me wrong.  I am all in favor of and respect people who tackle their addictions, but I am reminded of the words of Jesus:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Hmmmmm.....