Terrible and Wonderful

The work of racial reckoning, of fundamentally changing our relationship to the environment to try to prevent catastrophe, and of recreating our social/political world so that every child grows up with adequate food, shelter, medical attention and opportunity is daunting, to say the least. But as I see all three of these issues and think what might be done, the most proximal and meaningful work to be done seems to be to elect a new President and create a new Democratic majority in the Senate.

Our current President denies the existence of institutional racism while using ancient fears and hatreds to mobilize his supporters, supports continued exploitation of our natural resources for the benefit of the few and has demonstrated his incompetent meanness in his essential disregard of the terrible virus that has killed over 200,000 Americans during the past seven months. Not to mention his constant lying that has destabilized our country more than any foreign interference could. And then there are the Republicans in Congress who have stood by as he has blatantly used the office of President to enrich himself and tear at the very fabric of our communal life and structures of government.

I hope that everyone who reads this will actively contribute in some way to this effort to defend our country and help move us toward beginning to deal with the challenges we face. Working together, we can make a difference. Two possible actions to take today are: 1) Give a donation (even very small) to Joe Biden, the Democratic Party, and or Democratic Senate candidates that are in close races or 2) Write letters to encourage people to get out and vote (Vote Forward has organized a hugely successful campaign that has reached one million potential voters and is now hoping to reach 500,000 more before late October.)

But most important is to make a plan to vote. Even if the outcome in your state is already decided, the ultimate number of voters who express their wish for a new President will be important in the chaos that Trump will create after the election.  I have also heard that voting in person may be an important way to make the will of the people more visible in the first days after the election as the mail-in ballots are being counted.

Meanwhile it’s Sunday morning. The cooler fall weather is here and the sugar maple by the entrance to the Temple garden is in full color. The last flowers of the season, these New England trees are coming into full blossom here in central Massachusetts. My grandson, whom I have taught to stoop down and stick his nose close to flowers and breathe huffily in and out has extended this practice to colorful leaves. He hasn’t quite understood that scent and smell are part of this ritual. Recently, he’s been insisting that I ‘smell’ the changing leaves along with him. So far there is no scent, but I suppose bowing down and breathing close to organic objects of beauty is as good a practice as any.

My advice for us all today is to not get lost in any one world. Or maybe better to allow yourself to lost in each world you encounter. When you take your shower, be fully naked and slippery and warm. When you read the paper or listen to the news, be outraged and angered at the injustice that appears. When you step outside, breathe in and out huffily and appreciate the coolness of the air that holds calm beauty of each falling leaf.