I woke up this morning with an emotional hangover from a heavy weekend learning of the news from Charlottesville, VA. Longing for healing and a better world for our families. Overwhelmed by so much that is wrong with humanity. I laid awake in my bed thinking about how I want to make a difference. I want to change things. I want to rip the anger and hatred out of our culture. Then I remembered reading a quote by the inspirational Mother Teresa, "The way you help heal the world is that you start with your own family." My second thought was, "that's great but, it's not enough." Then the wise voice that I sometimes hear in my head said, "today it is." Groggy from the weekend I pulled myself out of bed and began to make muffins in the quiet kitchen. Half the lights off and only the hum of my oven and the inner thoughts of my meditation playing the soundtrack to the scene. I can't change the world for everyone but I can change the world for my few so that we can change the world for many. I can plant the seeds of love and set the examples of inclusion and acceptance. I teach them how different is beautiful, not threatening. I can show them how there is much to learn from each other. I can allow space for differences at my kitchen table for all those that we are honored to share it with. I can tutor kids in my neighborhood. I can be a comforting voice amidst all the yelling. I can give water to workers outside my house. I can respect everyone from the homeless man to the C.E.O., everyone from the Trump supporters to Trump haters. I can give friends a safe space to be themselves. I can listen. I can love. "If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family." she said. So, today I am talking to my big boy about how not all kids get treated the same by some people and how that's not ok by us. "Gorenca's look after each other and stand up for those mistreated and unheard. We use our privilege for good. Never harm." I tell him, "I love you and you are so so so special but you are also no more special than anyone else. We are all in this together, even when it's hard."
She also says, "The problem with our world is that we draw the circle of our family too small." I am fortunate to read that quote and it feel like home. My family lived this. It seems like our home was shared more often than it wasn't. My family consistently reached beyond themselves and welcomed anyone and everyone into it's safe space. Even into adulthood with our individual beliefs, we all are welcoming to whomever may show up at a family meal or event. All of this got me to thinking about the people in the pictures all over the news this past weekend. All the people who looked so ugly from anger and hate. All the people who felt the need to protest people not causes. I mashed the bananas knowing I was making something healthy for my family because I love them and I want them to know that. Then when I poured the bananas into the mixture I wondered about the home life of many of those young men and what jaded them. What happened to them to cause this rage? What happened to their parents to cause these lessons to be taught to them? Even those people are humans who are products of their experiences just like you and me. However limited or vast those experiences may be. We cannot chance someone's past but we can show them a new future. Even though I know it's unlikely that any of them will ever stubble upon my blog and even more unlikely that they will read this far into my post, I want to say something to them. It's not too late. You may have done terrible things. Terrible things may have been done to you. You may have been taught hatred and lies but there is another way. Your life matters. You count. You are special. But remember, you are no more special than the person you hate. It's hard to break away from what you know and the people who have accepted you into their circle but it's possible to live another way. There are many people who have room at their table for you. We have room for you. You are not your past. There is hope for you. There is hope for this country. Together we are strongest.
Friends, remember that LOVE WINS. Even on days like what we have just witnessed, love is a stronger power than hate. Roll up your sleeves, take a deep breath and remember that we can do hard things. Let's carry on with love.
