New
Beginning
“It’s
never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re
proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to
start over.”
F.
Scott Fitzgerald
It
feels as though the world is on the precipice of major change. In the midst of
all the sickness and death caused by the pandemic, all the chaos of race riots and
protests, and the monstrous social
and political divisions, a new life is emerging. Isn’t that the nature of
things? The cycle put in place at the beginning of time—birth, life, death,
rebirth. Why should this be any different? It seems we should be able to bring
about major change without repeating this cycle, but it’s apparently not in our
nature either.
For the
first time in a while, I feel truly hopeful. It looks as though we have hit
critical mass for sweeping change. I am reminded of when a glacier collapses,
or “calves.” The farther the glacier retreats down the slope, the faster the
collapse unfolds. Once critical mass has accumulated—whether in glaciers or in
social change—the speed picks up. We’ve been stuck in the glacier of racism for
thousands of years, but it’s about to fall over the edge and into the sea.
There
is much to do to support this change, but I believe we’re up to the task. It
won’t be easy; it won’t be without additional chaos, but like the Red Sea
before the ancient Hebrews, I see the waters parting. New generations do not want
to carry these divisions and inequities any farther into this new century—they want
change and this time I don’t believe they’ll tire until the task is completed.
Here is some ancient wisdom to fortify us.
From Seneca: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.”
And, more recently, Carl Bard: “Although no one can go back and make a brand
new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” We can
do this. Let’s end racism now.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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