Dive In

This is the day that celebrates the shift into the Year of the (water) Rabbit.  Waking up to a clear morning in which the skies seem to have streaks of orange making it feel like it could be sunset rather than sun up.  And the air is cool - at least for southern California - at 43 degrees faranheit.  The energy has been shifting for a while but today, is the Lunar New Year.  

For some, there will be the red paper that is delivered from elders to youth - wishes for abundance, for good health, and many successful moments.  Blessings will be bestowed from one to another.  In other parts of the world, it is a time to reflect on what matters most - relationships among loved ones, connection to lineages, gratitude for all that has given one joys in life, and it is a time to mark how societies have chosen to relate to time.  Hope is given a space to enter lives.

For others, it will be very different.  Today's local news talks about a shooting in an area of southern California that is known for its large Asian population.  Monterey Park sits just east of downtown Los Angeles and on the eve of this new year, 10 people were killed and about 10 more were injured by gun violence.  The venue was a dance studio and the motive for the shooting as well as the identity of the shooter(s), have not been identified.  In these times, one can imagine many motives - rival gang interests, anti-Asian sentiment stoked by white supremacy efforts to "cleanse" American identity, mental illness caused by drugs or untreated conditions.  Any of these, or combination of these could be at the center of the violent incident.  The cynical message delivered with a gun:  happy new year.

So much for hope.  These are the times in which one's faith in humanity gets tested - it is easy to have hope when all is well;  it is times like this that allow for tenacity to be tested.  Will this incident be the one that leads to doubt, fear, suspicion - or not?  Will this event snuff out the small light that continues to glow in a dark time or, will it be a reminder that there is much that needs tending and there is a cost to ignoring those needs?  So many questions arise when incidents like this come along.

This is part of the world's story today as well:  the Linda Lindas - a pre-teen/teen rock band has emerged over the past two years as a huge hit.  The four youngsters came together as a band that is so popular today, that their Sunday activities made the Los Angeles Times.  Literally, an hour-by-hour breakdown of what these girls do on a Sunday seems to be of interest to readers of a new generation.  A curiosity to another generation.

And, then there is an email that arrived early today, holding a message from someone who lives in Monterey Park.  She has gone into action by creating a crowdsourcing tool to contribute information from members of the public who may know something about the gun incident.  She signs off with what captures the sentiment of many Asian Americans, "With a heavy heart but determination."

Time to dive in to a new year.