What in this world gives you a "no"?

For our Transformation and Peacebuilding class we were given journals (that means I am journaling for 2 of three classes now, yay!) and the first day we were to do free writing on the question what in this world gives you a “no.” We wrote without stopping for ten minutes and I enjoyed reading back over some of the things I wrote. Here are SOME thoughts from the free write:

“I see sex trafficking, especially with young women and I say NO. I see children starving and struggling while their parents are treating them unfair and I say NO. I see people without homes and I say NO, that person deserves some place to be safe. I see gays and lesbians stared at and judged and I say NO. I want to just say WHY? Why can their not be interracial couples? Why can’t there be better schools? Why can’t there be jobs for everyone? I feel like I get more NOs than Yeses for things and that makes this world seem pretty messed up. The NOs that I have usually lead to WHYs and the WHYs usually lead me curious, angry, or upset. I want to take action, but I must first learn about what I am taking actions for. I see people hurt and upset, not thinking that there is some way out and I say NO. There is at least one way and that way is finding joy in Christ’s love. Find joy in something you love, a person, place or thing (although that one can get dangerous). Be passionate about something. A lot of things I become passionate about are things that I see and say NO to. I find hope and answers in Christ, and I find love in family and friends. I want people in the world not to think NO to their hopes and dreams. I want people who ask why? to their NOs like me to stand up and get an answer. This will help the world find more peace because if people refuse a NO and try to find ways to make things possible, the world could be better."