Above image…”Liberty” by artist Stephen Fishbach…
But this is “not who we are!” YES, it is. Until it’s not…
Our mirrors are pretty confrontational these days. Our national mirror, reflected through television, reminds us hourly of the mess we’ve made by too often defaulting to the bad guys and gals to manage our governance. At many levels. Partisan extremes, terminal incompetence and unfettered controls lead us to Minnesota. Thank goodness for Minnesotans.
Our personal mirrors give us the unvarnished reminders of who we are and are not as we apply our varnish for the day. We contemplate our role in all this, realizing that marches, placards and catchy slogans can only go so far. Brute political force, fear-mongering and aggressive misinformation campaigns most frequently win-out. We in the too-silent majority have got to step up our citizenship game if we’re to counter this dangerous, destructive, maddening nonsense.
Toughening Up Our Softer side. Ironic? Not Really…
Courage and compassion are not incompatible, not mutually exclusive. Carrots and sticks, empathy and collaboration can best be addressed by those who nurture their hearts and minds for the battles that should not have to become battles if we cultivate options. Valor and values.
Encouragement and Inspiration are All Around Us, If We’re Open To Them…
I become too cynical and hardened if I don’t find/seek some balance to counter the influence of traditional media pundits and social media posts. I’ve found that there are so many nurturing resources if I’m only open to them. Poets, writers, counselors, social adventurers, teachers through the ages. Past and present.
I’m sharing a few examples of inspirational sources that I’ve found helpful. Many of you are way ahead of me in this regard. You may want to dust off some gems of your own to energize your need/search for spiritual boosts. There are many sources when you’re ready to engage them. For Example:
A pandemic observation from Brene Brown…perfect for our “pandemic” of destructive politics…
Good words from the Trinity School of Austin…
The Poet’s Pen Can Be A Great Source of Inspiration.
I was introduced to several poets through Austin’s former Seton Cove spiritualty center, including world-class established poets such as David Whyte and Naomi Shihab Nye. This tribute to Nye at The Wittliff Galleries is a reminder of her influence as poet, writer and speaker. Based in San Antonio, Naomi travels the world sharing her inspirational and courageous words with many audiences.
From The Wittliff Galleries at Texas State University…
My friend Mike Blair started writing daily poems a few years back…just for himself and his dear partner, Ginger. However, others became privy to his talent and encouraged him to share with a broader audience. Mike’s common themes of compassion, empathy, kindness, love and environmental stewardship resonated with many and needed to be shared. He published this book of his writings to date, and a growing fan base are enjoying them. We have gifted several to friends and relations.
IN CLOSING
We live in dangerous times. Powerful forces are attempting to wrest our Country from us, but we have the ability to reclaim it…IF WE WILL. That will take courage, smarts, effective collaboration and creative leadership if we are to succeed. We’ll need all the help we can get. We’ll have to be nurtured in many ways to meet the challenge. The experience, inspiration and wisdom of those who’ve gone before will be invaluable as we determine our roles and chart our course to better. May the Gods of Our Understanding bless us on this journey.
And Now, For Something Completely Different
Since we’re frighteningly close to Valentine’s, and living in scary times, it seemed appropriate to close with a little frivolity to give hope that we can still frivoligize…HAPPY VALENTINE’S, FOLKS!
