Covid-19

Covid Fear & Love

Trump says don’t be afraid of Covid.  Even the pope says that’s crazy from a man whose disrespect for the virus has caused tremendous harm to the human family.  Thing is, Trump’s got a point.  Though his meaning of don’t be afraid is on another planet from my own. 

There are endless reasons to be mindful of Covid, respectful of Covid, aware of the potential harm of Covid.  And all that is possible without being brutalized by the fear of it.  The contamination spreads not from a lack of fear, but from a lack of attention, a lack of honest engagement, a lack of common sense you might say.  

Of course this isn’t Trump’s meaning at all. Read More

The Invitation to Expand

 

The Covid-19 pandemic may be the most powerfully positive worldwide event in my lifetime of 77 years.  There are at least three reasons.

First, its disruption affects virtually everyone on earth in ways that are painfully unforgettable.  At the very least there is the specter of insecurity over however our future unfolds––individually and collectively.

As such, this disruption may very well be motivating enough to inspire action that creates a worldwide capability to respond constructively to crises that affect the human family as a whole.

The response I speak of is one that transcends superficial identities such as nationality and any form of social status.   

Second, a healthful response cannot be achieved by causing others pain.   The brutality of 911 prompted the US to say, basically, let’s go to war.  Challenges like Covid-19, though arguably more dangerous than 911, are immune to such immaturity.  The only meaningful response is one rooted in collaboration.

We are blessed with a distinct, if not unique, opportunity.  One where only an authentic appreciation for our common humanity will result in an outcome favorable to all. Read More

"The push to change the words “nigger” and “injun” in Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, because the so-called offensive nature of those terms might limit today’s readership and appreciation of that literary classic, is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how we avoid taking responsibility for our feelings––and therefore miss the chance to become more awake, more whole, more useful friends to one another."

The Essay: The Gold in Niggers and Injuns