Click Bait.(Kevin Hughes) We have all seen them, even the respectable News Channels, Science Centers, and Religions have had to resort to using them… "click bait”.

Those lead lines that hint about what you are about to learn, need to know, or have to have.

“Scientists discover the Universe isn’t real.”

“Wait till you hear what the Chief Justice said about the Supreme Court.”

“Doctor’s can’t believe this simple household chemical can kill the most dangerous thing in your home.”

“Famous Actress reveals she had the two worst childhood diseases.”


What used to be called “hyperbole” is now so routine that it barely registers as even mild exaggeration.

So you “click” on the story, article, or YouTube Channel. Only to find out that you were misled at best, lied to, at worst.

Scientists used Math to find a way to test physical events at the Quantum Level. Most of us don’t even know what they mean when they say: “The Universe isn’t Locally Real.”

But we clicked anyway.

The Chief Justice said: “We are taking the Holidays off.”

But we clicked anyway.

That chemical that kills the most dangerous thing in your home? Bleach. Yep. And the dangerous thing that it kills? Mold.

But we clicked anyway.

And those two horrible teenage diseases the Famous Actress suffered from in her teenage years?

Acne and overweight.

We clicked anyway.

So how was I supposed to ignore this particular “click bait?”

“You can change your life with this single sentence. A sentence so powerful it has healed the sick, turned war into peace, and altered the course of people’s lives. And it is only three words long."

I mean wouldn’t you have clicked on something so easy. Click here, learn to change your life. One click away from changing every thing.

So …I clicked.

The change was sudden. Unexpected. In a way…frightening. My computer was gone. My room was gone. The world I knew…was gone. Maybe that wasn’t click bait about the Science Story. Because wherever I was - it was not in reality. It couldn’t be real.

Could it?

It was Christmas Eve when I clicked. But when is it now? I look to my left. I almost fainted.

All I could see was a multitude of scenes from History. Scenes going back thousands of years, maybe millions.

And each and every scene had only one thing in common…someone was either helping a stranger, or forgiving a loved one. That’s all. Every single scene.

A Roman Soldier giving his robe to a frail looking young mother and her child.

A desert nomad being given water, and a place in a tent.

Two warriors carrying a defeated Chief, dying of his wounds, back to his people. Risking their lives to Honor a respected foe.

A Greek Shepherd housing a Persian Noble trapped in a mountain snow storm.

A clan of Neanderthals sharing their cave with the much smaller and lighter Homo sapiens. Sharing a fire and shelter…and food.

I shook my head. I looked to the right.
I almost fainted.

I saw my life. From the moment of birth, to the present moment…and way beyond that. So far into the future that I was watching my great great great great grandchildren way off in the mist.

Every single moment of kindness, joy, or forgiveness; highlighted by a soft blue glow.

I saw the Nurse wipe the brow of my Mother as she struggled to give birth. I watched as a kind Doctor helped dress my Dad so he could hold me for the first time.

I watched neighbors bring food over to our house to check on Mom and keep my two older siblings and my Dad from having to try and cook.

I watched my sister ask my Mother how to work the washing machine. When my Mom asked her why…she said:

“You do all the work. I want you to sit and drink your coffee while I do the laundry.”

I saw my Mom cry as she hugged my sister.

I saw my brother open a small box with his life savings in it. He was only twelve. I was ten. I had my heart set on going to Summer Camp. But Dad had broken his leg and couldn’t work for a whole summer.

We had no money. Camp was only twenty dollars, but that was twenty more dollars than we had. And if we did have it, it would have gone for food or bills.

He walked up to the Church with his savings and bought me two weeks at Camp. He gave me two dollars to buy the leather supplies at Camp.

So I made him moccasins and a belt. He still has them.

My old High School girlfriend showed up at my door my Senior year in College. She had heard my Mom was losing her battle with Cancer.

She drove a hundred fifty miles from her College …with her boyfriend - to see if I was okay. I cried on her lap. Her boyfriend made himself scarce for most of the afternoon. They are both still friends.

I saw my wife quietly take my hand and ask: “Do you still love me?”

I said; “Yes.”

With that, she wiped a tear from her eye.

“Then I forgive you.”

I cried. I didn’t deserve her. She never mentioned it again. I never failed her again.

There were many more moments, all of them some form of love or forgiveness.

I laughed at some of the things my kids did. Or their kids. Or their kids, kids. I cried at the strength it took to love again after being burned. Or to forgive someone who hurt them.

And then I was back at my computer. The room was back. I was real again. The soft blue glow in either direction …gone.

I knew the three words now. They sound different but they mean the same thing:

“I love you. I forgive you.”

Both are action words. Without the action part, well, they are just words. If you say them without meaning them, they remain just words.

But live them, act on them, choose to give them their full due, and they can, will, and do change everything.

I never told anyone that I had clicked on that site. I just called my HS girlfriend ( we were both Sophomores ) to thank her for being a good person.

She laughed as she made me laugh when she replied:

“After two years, you are just noticing that?”

Then she grew quiet and thoughtful.

“Hey, what’s going on? You really mean what you said. I can feel it.”

I told her I was just missing her and got a bit sappy. She laughed again.

“You big wimp. You just saw me yesterday, and tomorrow is the Christmas Dance. I love you. “

She hung up. I never told her what I was thanking her for. I thought the guy she would meet in college was a lucky guy.

I went down and hugged my Mom. Tight. She hugged me back.

“What’s going on Son?”

“Nothing, I just love you.”

She laughed.

“Well, I love you too, but you still are not getting a car for Christmas.”

We both laughed out loud.

I am old now. I used those three words often during my life. It was to be my last Christmas. Nobody knew that. I did. I had fallen for that click bait decades ago. I was a part of a long chain of people who said: "I love you, I forgive you. "

The best click bait in the world.

Merry Christmas everyone.

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