Ric Pawloski is the executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center in Niles. He can be reached at directorfsrc@gmail.com.

The word momentum is defined by Webster as “strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events.” We hear the term most often used in the context of sporting events. It is usually difficult to quantify but easy to “feel” or “see” movement as one team starts to get “hot” and pull away from its opponent. In order to create momentum, motion is required whether figuratively or literally and motion requires action. This action can take both positive and negative forms.

Have you ever felt that at various times in your life events that have occurred represent either negative or positive momentum? When you enjoy that string of positive events like a new job you always wanted with the comfortable salary you longed for is followed by the purchase of the house you’ve dreamed of with the new car in the garage, you just can’t believe how lucky you are and you feel like these blessings will never end. Everyone is saying how lucky you are. But how about when you lose your job, can’t pay bills, your most important relationships are crumbling, the car broke down, your grandma passed away suddenly and you have been diagnosed with cancer? It can feel as though the bad things are equally never ending and the encouragement has disappeared.

I suspect that many of you reading this have been in one situation or the other and most likely a bit of both. I know I have. Our situation, both negatively and positively, can be profoundly affected by our own attitude and action as well as the attitude and action of those we surround ourselves with. That also means that we ourselves can affect the momentum of those we encounter every day. These days, it seems that negative momentum is building all around us. It has become incredibly easy to propagate negativity without impunity as we can hide behind a keyboard engaging in detrimental narratives.

I find myself longing for simpler times when we were not technologically engaged 24 hours a day and there was time for enjoying the simple pleasures. I long for a world where love and civility are the first choice, and we find ourselves at just the right moment saying just the right thing that someone needs to change the momentum of their lives.

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV) says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Having a good word for someone who needs it requires two actions. It requires that we are paying enough attention to recognize the need and then providing the good word. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) exhorts us, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

We can change the momentum in lives all around us including ours with simple acts of love and kindness. Be aware and be blessed as you encourage one another.