In days of old, carriage horses used to wear blinders, eye coverings designed to keep them from spooking at things in their peripheral vision. In a world full of atrocities and dangers, it’s all too tempting to put on our own blinders, to refuse to see the realities of climate change or modern day slavery or factory farming or so many other horrors.
How do you choose to pay attention to the world in a way that keeps you responsible and connected, but without being totally overwhelmed?
That is an excellent question.
You know, this might or might not be related. However, I tried contacting my 2 daughters this afternoon, both by land line and by cell phone. Could not reach them. It occurred to me that some people may have lost faith, lost God, lost sight of their goals, but it also occurred to me that one must keep trying, find another way, but make contact. Some of you do not believe in God. I do. And, I keep trying to find him, to find serenity, to find new vision, to find renewed faith. I will continue down that path.
As a Precinct Committeeman for the Democratic Party in Arizona I am reminded daily in my e-mails about every domestic tragedy. But I live in a small town where it seems almost everyone else is wearing blinders and they resent my fighting against demons and injustices. You can never hear or participate in a serious discussion of global issues.