It's of Infectious Things

Dear America,

Infectious Thoughts for Good, Unite

originally composed and published for PARADE readers, and distributed throughout the nation in local newspapers, sharing with you this morning A Prayer For The World, by Rabbi Harold S. Kushner:

Let the rain come and wash away 

the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds 

held and nurtured over generations.  

Let the rain wash away the memory 

of the hurt, the neglect.  

Then let the sun come out and 

fill the sky with rainbows.  

Let the warmth of the sun heal us 

wherever we are broken.  

Let it burn away the fog so that 

we can see each other clearly.  

So that we can see beyond labels, 

beyond accents, gender or skin color.  

Let the warmth and brightness 

of the sun melt our selfishness.  

So that we can share the joys and 

feel the sorrows of our neighbors.  

And let the light of the sun 

be so strong that we will see all 

people as our neighbors.  

Let the earth, nourished by rain, 

bring forth flowers 

to surround us with beauty.  

And let the mountains teach our hearts 

to reach upward to heaven.  

Amen.

and for more inspiration, sharing Maria Shriver's recent post --

We are all in uncharted territory. I knew this to be true as I sat Thursday evening watching the Governor of California issue a historic “stay at home order” for the entire state for at least one month. As I watched the press conference, I felt the seriousness of the moment. The projected statistics were sobering, and as I listened, I could feel the anxiety and the fear rising up in me. I sat for a moment on my couch unsure of what to do or what to think. Then I closed my eyes to remember the dawn of that very morning.

When I opened my eyes after my meditation, the sun was breaking through the trees. It was actually beautiful. It appeared like a crystal shooting rays through branches. As I looked, a thought popped into my mind: We are all—each and every one of us—a diamond, a crystal, a ray of sunshine in another person’s life. We are each desperately needed at this moment. Our light is needed. Our ray of hope is needed. Our joy will make someone’s day. We’ve got to know that.

sharing

sharing

let's just think about that word for a moment -- from sharing the burden of a worldwide, community virus to sharing the words of hope to get us through it, we are sharing everything.  Some might say, we are sharing at a deeper level than ever, perhaps in ways similar to that of September 12, 2001.  (And what a Day After that was for the nation.)

The connections we truly share with one another, every single day, whether through avenues of a bustling economy connecting main streets from sea to shining sea -- or through the avenues of mindfulness...the essential responsibility of passing on a good education in each new generation, to the depth and breadth of celebrating our religious independence while congregating with one another within our spiritual communities -- sharing a certain connected-ness with one another is as vital as our daily bread.

Oh we get it now (again.)

Sharing this sea change with all the world is becoming a tumultuous affair -- it's overwhelming, really. 

We truly need each other more today than we did yesterday.

Imagining how free spirited we once were, whether it be in our words, our bodies, or our presence of mind...popping off on twitter just doesn't seem all that essential right now, does it?

The sun is struggling to come out from behind the clouds and make things aright once more.

We will get there.

Just not exactly the way we thought...perhaps taking a little longer than we thought...perhaps looking a little darker before it becomes a little brighter, than we thought.

We will get there.

With a little help from the Rabbi and Maria, we are reminded of both the power of prayer and the transformative power of using our words in the express purpose to encourage, enlighten, and illuminate the spirit inside each and every one of us to move forward together, harmoniously, e pluribus unum, while sharing the one common denominator shared by all -- that here, and now, that there by the grace of God go I. 

What happens to one of us effects, affects, infects, and connects us all.

Make it a Good Day, G