Riots, Flooding and a Solar Eclipse - A Heck of a Month!

What a month this has been on my heart & spirit.

August, usually a month that is often defined as the end of summer and the beginning of the school year, began for us with beautiful weekends high in the Wyoming mountains at my parent's cabin.

It is usually a place for respite, a time for long family talks around the dining room table, listening to the wind cascade through the trees, watching the humorous antics of the chipmunks and Golden Mantles, and trying to keep up with the hummingbird feeders.

It is a place where I can explore a dirt trail on a vintage motorcycle and where there's always time to visit with friends.

Without internet or cell phone service, it's comfortable, familiar and seemingly far, far away from the "real world."

But, on the weekend of August 12th, the TV, which is often just a source for entertainment and old movies, put us smack dab in the heart of Charlottesville, VA.

Suddenly, violence, racial bigotry, seething hatred and even death permeated our quiet space.  

I was bewildered with what I was watching and what I heard--and did not hear--for several days.  

I was consumed with unanswered questions, beginning with What is happening to our country?

I thought we, as a country, had come farther than this.

I thought we had made strides forward in equality, respect, tolerance.

I read articles on How Did We Get to This?  Is Hate Speech Free Speech?  Is Today's Tumultuous Political Climate Giving Hate a Broader Platform?

And, then, it was Monday, August 21, and all of North America was treated to a solar eclipse.

All my family and friends made plans to watch.  Some were first to see it from Lincoln City, Oregon; some in Casper, Wyoming; a newly designated campsite in the middle of Wyoming; a corn field in Nebraska; a rented cabin in Topton, NC. Ken and I watched with my parents at the Wyoming cabin.  

For that short morning span we all looked up, reminded that there is still wonder in the sky, that a celestial event can be a moment that fills a human heart with awe and gratitude to have the opportunity--and approved glasses--to witness it. It is a sight to behold.

Photo by Stephan Morin

Four days later, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas.

The first hurricane in 2017, Harvey has dumped over 50 inches of rain causing catastrophic flooding, creating the worst disaster in Texas history and likely the United States.

And, brought out the best in humans helping each other.

Watching coverage, I am brought to tears by the compassion, care and kindness shared by strangers, volunteers, neighbors, friends and families.  I am heartened by ongoing rescues with about 32,000 displaced people in shelters across Texas, and millions of dollars donated to relief efforts by corporations, celebrities, sports stars, foundations--and folks like you and me.  

I will close this post with a quote from Nelson Mandela from his 1994 autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom," that was tweeted by President Obama in response to the Charlottesville riots:

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."