I was going to write about the pale blue delphinium buds opening toward radiance,
how watching the ocean for hours brings clarity and peace to a foggy mind,
how the big sky with its long, unfurling clouds nurtures the heart, but
instead, I am cynical and disturbed and feel helpless
with the news of
oh, so seemingly trite: the call for pause, the call to bow and remember lessons of
barbarous behavior last year
in another peaceful, civilized country like our own;
dozens of innocents gunned down
while enjoying a simple sunny day in the park.
Swiftly we declare admonitions and arguments, take sides dissecting and discussing and
advancing an angry war amongst ourselves.
How could this happen? Why? Who is to blame?
We already know what matters most, and yet today, another brutal reminder.
Our practice of fierce peace is essential, now
Staying connected to each other is fundamental, right now
Tender and vulnerable, we
will not let the world make us hard as to wound ourselves,
This is all I know.
everybody hurts.
The trick is to not become complacent about the bad things that don't affect us directly... There's talk this dude may have been brainwashed by some gov't agency (CIA?)... questions about how he got all that expensive shit, etc. But big issue is how detached people can get from each other while still seeming like part of the world. We're all alone, whether lonely or not. We need to be accountable for each other, if only to say, "How was your day today?" vs. some slip into a psychotic state and the picking up of a weapon. Still think like Chris Rock, we should charge $5,000 per bullet... no more senseless drivebys, etc... too expensive. Mike
ReplyDeleteThere is a hole of emptiness in this man's heart that was left untended, uncared for. Here's where a religion or fellowship of community may have helped him to cope. Or, he had a psychotic break and deep, repetitive thoughts of derangement completely consumed him. Though I don't have cable TV (so haven't been exposed to constant news/ chatter about the event), I was deeply moved by NPR's thoughtful discussion; clearly, tragedies like this affect us all.
ReplyDelete