Another Beginning
Not much changed outside today. The weather has been great the last few days, and indeed for much of the summer. But this bit of warmth and sun, and soil descending into sleep is a treat that I have enjoyed in the garden.
The moon is still out there, dancing around us. As it will many years from now. And I know, no matter how old my eyes get, she will always be beautiful to me.
None of this changes. Except that which we are foolish enough to destroy with our inattention.
I only see hope where I see action. I only believe in what people do, not what they say. I believe that serving breakfast to 130 people who are hungry is bloody hard work and is the absolutly best way to start a day.
So we have had our words. You have chanted "Yes I can". You have been astounded by the courage of your choice. Now act on it.
I admire Barack Obama for his words underlining the need for personal responsibility. I honor Senator McCain for his devotion to the service of his nation, and to his record of that service. If you chose to live in the example of either of these men, you would be a credit to yourselves.
And so I hope that people are willing to move. To choose to do more. To stand up, grab an urn of coffee, and fill a few dozen cups with steaming coffee goodness.
And then, you make an even deeper choice. You stop looking to colors and flags and banners. You stop looking at names and parties and borders. We stop choosing ideas that require the tearing apart of human flesh and the destruction of homes.
You look at the earth. At this unreal blessing floating so fragile in a universe that could not support us without this blessing. And you look at your garbage. And you look at your waste. We must reexamine how much we are willing to give up, to achieve so little.
And then we put aside the words and actually compost. And buy less crap. And find more of our income to give to support our communities. And find more time in our lives to do the same.
And we find friends to help us.
I love my wife Hope. I love the life she has given me so far. I love my home and I love having my friends in my home. I miss all of my family today and hope that each of them is safe in those cities we inhabit so many miles apart. May the choices we make be blessings upon our children.
My only wish is that everyone, everywhere can be safe and happy and fed in our homes. May we be willing to bring about the peace that will make this possible. May we have that kind of courage.
The moon is still out there, dancing around us. As it will many years from now. And I know, no matter how old my eyes get, she will always be beautiful to me.
None of this changes. Except that which we are foolish enough to destroy with our inattention.
I only see hope where I see action. I only believe in what people do, not what they say. I believe that serving breakfast to 130 people who are hungry is bloody hard work and is the absolutly best way to start a day.
So we have had our words. You have chanted "Yes I can". You have been astounded by the courage of your choice. Now act on it.
I admire Barack Obama for his words underlining the need for personal responsibility. I honor Senator McCain for his devotion to the service of his nation, and to his record of that service. If you chose to live in the example of either of these men, you would be a credit to yourselves.
And so I hope that people are willing to move. To choose to do more. To stand up, grab an urn of coffee, and fill a few dozen cups with steaming coffee goodness.
And then, you make an even deeper choice. You stop looking to colors and flags and banners. You stop looking at names and parties and borders. We stop choosing ideas that require the tearing apart of human flesh and the destruction of homes.
You look at the earth. At this unreal blessing floating so fragile in a universe that could not support us without this blessing. And you look at your garbage. And you look at your waste. We must reexamine how much we are willing to give up, to achieve so little.
And then we put aside the words and actually compost. And buy less crap. And find more of our income to give to support our communities. And find more time in our lives to do the same.
And we find friends to help us.
I love my wife Hope. I love the life she has given me so far. I love my home and I love having my friends in my home. I miss all of my family today and hope that each of them is safe in those cities we inhabit so many miles apart. May the choices we make be blessings upon our children.
My only wish is that everyone, everywhere can be safe and happy and fed in our homes. May we be willing to bring about the peace that will make this possible. May we have that kind of courage.