We can focus on good
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Editor,
The new year dawns. Where are we today? In our nation, the political scene resembles a melodramatic soap opera or a reality TV show, with all the elements of jabbing insults, posturing, and spewing bluster. We have unprecedented violence, terrorist threats, and economic challenges. A whirlwind of technological advances excites and overwhelms us at the same time. Social media causes eruptions, good and bad. Consumerism lurks, tempting us daily. On the world stage, we have turmoil in the Middle East, the mayhem brought on by ISIS, the refugee crisis, and wild weather events. All of this resembles an epic Star Wars battle of good vs. evil.
We know we can’t “fix” any of this. So what are we to do? We can step outside of the drama; we can find our center; and we can stay above the fray. We can smile at the grocery clerk. We can help someone change a flat. We can practice forgiveness and tolerance. We can confront people (if needed) with kindness. We can ignore the Internet trolls. We can seek simplicity and vulnerability as the Pope advised. We can help someone achieve an important goal. We can volunteer. We can refuse to be blindsided by all the noise and confusion. We can focus on the general good: the beauty, the creativity, and the advances in medicine, technology, and science. We can emulate the great people in our history. We can seek out love, compassion, and justice, wherever we happen to be. We can.
It is one of the oldest stories in mankind’s library: the story of light versus dark. It is about returning to the core of our existence. My new year’s resolution is to put the following quote on the refrigerator and read it every morning: “Once there was only dark. You ask me, the light’s winning.” (Rust, in True Detective). May the force be with you.
Nancy Teggeman
Polson
