Earth Day . . .

Happy Earth Day, from my garden to yours, and from my heart to you. As I reflect on this day, I keep coming back to something that has been on my mind for a long time, but amplified in recent weeks. It is this concept of right and wrong, good and evil, smart and stupid, left and right, stay home and re-open. Even the earth, which provides life and food, and everything we truly need for survival, also causes death (through hurricanes, wildfires, volcanoes, tsunamis, mudslides, etc.) One of the big problems I see is black and white thinking around all of the current issues. But what do we expect? We teach our kids, "it is wrong to lie" and then they hear us say "oh he was out sick yesterday," to a teacher. We watch all these Marvel movies about good and evil, and good guys and bad guys, and don't acknowledge or teach that most of those "heros" were also "bad" too. I don't watch all of the movies because I can't take it, but it seems to me that Batman was some spoiled rich kid with trauma issues who took it on himself to right some social wrongs outside of the law. While "Joker," the most accurate of the true human condition, shows that good and evil are just degrees. We all have both in us. Constantly. Daily. In every decision.

We are so quick to say that America is great, but not acknowledge the atrocities we too have committed. Or say Saddam Hussein was evil, when different moments in history would prove otherwise. The point here is not political, but that there is a Massive Gray area. Some people want the right to go back to work, because they are struggling so hard that it is worth risking their life for their family. Some people want to stay at home because it is worth their sacrifice to save other humans. Some of those same people that want to stay home have the privilege of still being able to feed their family, and work from home, and enjoy time with their kids. In some of those other homes, those kids are in a threatening situation because of domestic abuse, or violence, or food insecurity, or poverty.

I urge you to see the "gray" today, to try and think about all the factors that are going into people's decisions. I know where I stand on my perspective right now, but I also know that my perspective is based on my life, my experience, my financial situation, my spiritual views, my family situation, my climate and location, and the weather, and internet access, and a million other factors. We did a huge disservice to this country when we decided to segregate ourselves based on wealth. We have consistently made decisions that made all new housing developments include the same range of income, which often includes the same range of jobs, which often includes the same range of social problems. We used to live next to people who were different than us, just by the nature of old housing patterns. We used to talk about struggles, and hurts, and social problems. Social media has made it way easier to say "that person is an idiot. What are they thinking. Here's my perspective." But I bet if your neighbor walked over and said I really need to go back to work because we can't afford to eat next week, you wouldn't hold up a poster and say "Look at this. I'm right you're wrong." You still may not agree, but it sure wouldn't be as aggressive, or polarized, or mean.

I am not here to get into some big political or social debate, just to urge you all to acknowledge that there is no such thing as right and wrong. Just moments and perceptions. That also means I know I may be "wrong" just by the content of my post. But I am also part "right". Trump isn't evil or great. The Democrats aren't evil or right. America isn't "wrong" or "right." You aren't "wrong" or "right." Be willing to see the gray. Let us work to move forward. And stop being mean. We are all powerful, fragile, sensitive, hardened, loving, hating, confident, afraid humans here. And we need each other. More than ever. And know that I love you all, regardless of what your situation currently makes you believe about the world.

Just for a short, silly example: we often tell our kids, "it is never okay to run with scissors." But what happens when you fall in a pool and are drowning and your life depends on scissors immediately. Do you want them to be Good, or acknowledge the gray?

Take care y'all. We will get through this, whatever that means to each of you.