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Friends,

In the words of an old song: “What a difference a day/week makes!!” Last week at this time I was typing gloom and doom, and this week I just want to type “Boom!” All my political and personal energy was tied up in such pent up anxiety about the future of our country I could not have even imagined such a rapid change in the course of historical political events. I feel a bit overwhelmed, like coming out of a long tunnel into near blinding bright sunlight. The rapid advancement of the Biden-Harris transition has been startling. I am a little giddy about it all as well as a little cautious about this giddiness. There is truth to what has probably correctly been named Harris’s honeymoon, but there is also a wonder and sweetness of so much relief and hope after the sense of near capitulation to another Trump presidency.

On another note, I am appalled at the pure nastiness of the current American political culture. Trump and Vance have established a combative willingness to name call and undermine the democratic process supported by years of the right wing’s intention to do so and abetted by their conservative media support. Although I am so encouraged by Kamala Harris’s positive and encouraging message and style, some Democrats may be tempted to follow suite to some degree, and the liberal media will also undoubtedly follow. But when the political process deteriorates to mudslinging we all loose our better angels' sense of grace and kindness, and we all know we can be better. All of us can decide, however, whether or not we personally will choose to engage civilly with our family and friends and out into the workplace and media. May our commitment to vote also include a commitment to engage each other with genuine curiosity and a willingness to listen respectfully to oppositional points of view, and may we model that type of behavior for others.

When I first sat down to write this evening I did not intend to be so political, certainly not as clearly biased and partisan as my words flowed on the screen. But I do not apologize. I consider this more hopeful turn of events a matter of my faith in the general goodness of humanity and a democratic form of government. Now the people will have a more encouraging reason to vote and to expect the campaign commitments to work for the common good rather than corporations, political ambitions, and the disproportionate accrual of wealth. 

I want to close on a personal and reflective note...

Today I turn 81. The spectrum of age and aging surrounds me with both deep gratitude and, of course, a bit of melancholy about it all. I am grateful to have lived in such extraordinary times on this earth. Our generation has spun through space and time unabashedly creating scientific miracles and comforts even as we have caused great damage to our planet and each other in a whirlwind that has been equally exciting, daunting and very dangerous. And now we are attempting to cope with what we have created that is also exciting and even more daunting. I am on the brink of giving up trying to stay abreast of it all. Yet my heart and soul also attempts to hold a positive perspective for the next generation as embodied in the lives of my six grandchildren. But I do wonder if I and my generation have met the challenge of bequeathing them with a level of personal stature and integrity they will need as their generation reckons with the environmental harm, economic disparity, and political complexity created by us. I can imagine elders of most eras and most cultures with similar concerns as they also have asked: Have we adequately provided our young people with the requisite traditional knowledge and deep honoring of life itself? Of course we will never know the answer to that question. So our job is to at least pass on our love and a reverence for the earth as best we can. And we then must trust we have done enough. Because my faith includes the mantra of “Expect grace; pray for mercy” I will believe life will endure in ways I cannot imagine.

Peace,
Tom