DISCERNMENT
Where are we headed?
Hurricane Ridge, image by Dllu, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. [1]
Stray birds of summer come to my window to sing and fly away.
And yellow leaves of autumn, which have no song, flutter and fall there with a sigh.
—RABINDRANATH TAGORE
The events of this election have been unsavory. Perhaps the most significant aspect of this season is trying to discern a path forward. However, we must not abandon the principles that represent the aspirations of the citizens of this beautiful country.
Many years ago, when my life was disrupted by career circumstances I used to explore the trails of the Pacific Northwest. Lost in a reverie due to the magnificent landscapes I strayed off the path. Although I thought I knew where I was and the general direction on which I could get back on the trail, I was hesitant to destroy the fragile ecosystem with my clumsy missteps. As I pondered my situation, a voice came to me. It was the voice of a lady at least as old as I am today. “You are off the trail”, she said, and pointed to the direction I should take. She had been on those trails previously and knew the way.
I am looking for that lady now, the personification of wisdom. With some discernment we will find her, and she will point the way.
We must continue to seek freedom in America’s spacious skies and turn the amber waves of grain to golden justice for all. We must look to the majesty of its mountains, such as those I found in the Pacific Northwest, for inspiration, and hope in a better future. The shedding of God’s grace is not reserved for religious fundamentalists, bigots, and oligarchs. We are called to universal brotherhood with all human beings, not just from one shining sea to another. The moment calls for optimism, strength of character and perseverance.
Credible strong leaders will be needed at this moment— leaders with a clear and credible message to carry us forward.
We must help public servants find the wherewithal to preserve our freedoms.
Let us seek the light of wisdom together and bring everyone along. The birds of summer will return, sing and not fly away. And the yellow leaves of autumn will turn golden and dazzle us with the beauty of hope in a bright future.
We ve had bomb cyclones here in the PNW. The majestic mountains still standing, the trees uprooted, power lines pulled off poles - neighbors gathered in the street to assess damage and needs. No power. Not one political sign remains in the yards of our little cul de sac. My Trump supporting neighbor carried his chain saw across the yard that once sported my Harris-Walz sign to begin limbing and then rounding the large top of my cedar tree now wedged in the space of a side yard. So relieved to be just neighbors again … caring neighbors. That’s all. no judgment. no guidance. just a story. Maybe nature will help us find our way back to the path. 🌲
I was told years ago that what we focus our attention on grows. We must not focus on the hurt, but on what good could come from the collective situation we have found ourselves in. I love your analogy to the path ahead of us. We are on the right one, but can’t speak for the rest.