If Only...

What does it take for people to shift from the orientation to me and "us" (a wider form of me) to something beyond that divisive way of being in today's world? Today is the day when the United States of America votes. The election on November 3, 2026 is a mid-term and historically, not very consequential. But this year (the year of the fire horse), it is quite important for deciding what the country stands for in terms of principles and practices as a nation. If only we could know that the outcome will be one that returns this country to the values of equity, compassion, caring for our people and, as much as possible and practicable, caring for others around the world who face hardship that can be alleviated if generosity were to return.

This weekend the clocks were turned back (literally a reversal of time) and this one hour shift on the clock has caught many people flat-footed. Did we "gain" time? For many, the clock changing from daylight savings to the fall season when we get less sunlight and more darkness is not a welcome change. But for now, this is what we have and in thinking about what we can do with more shadow in our daily cycle, the thought emerged for me: This is a kind of invitation to be in reflection, quiet, and practice being with the unknown. If only we valued opportunities like this.

We are always facing the unknown when facing the future. There simply is no way to know what will happen in the next moment. Sometimes it is a beautiful surprise; other times a terrible tragic loss. All of us can think of the incident that took so many lives in New York City when planes careened into the World Trade Center / Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Has it really been more than two decades? Almost 3,000 people perished and surely every single one of them thought they were going to work and going home that day. The nation was stunned, no one among the leaders of the nation saw it coming. If only we as a nation were more conscious of the responsibility and the role we occupied as a leader across the globe.

And, when we learn of a new life that is emerging when an announcement that the baby is due in nine months or less - there is, more often than not, a feeling of joy and hope. A little human is going to be joining a family, a community, our world. Of course, there are lots of things that can happen before that arrival but undeniably, if there is safe passage and a healthy little being and mother - an immediate sense of both relief and love can be felt, no matter the circumstances that may exist in the rest of the world. If only we could remember, each day, how precious our children are as sources of lessons on unconditional love.

When I watch the returns on the various races that will come to results today and over the next few days (perhaps months!), the collective voice of the people that make up this society will be made visible once again. While there is deep division and a need to balance what we know from our own lived experiences and what the election campaigns are selling as the truth about the people and programs to choose from, hopefully the outcome will reflect that we are still a people who have capacity to face the unknown anchored by the values of generosity, intelligence, and love. If only that would happen.