Sunday Musings - November 15, 2020
Once again this week I was often reminded of the Charles Dickens’ quote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” (A Tale of Two Cities)
Certainly it would be easy to fall into the darkness of despair in these United States. Politically it seems we are more divided than ever and poised for a battle over control of the seat of our government or one branch of it. Economically and medically Covid-19 seems to challenge the capacity of a health care system which was already the most expensive of any nation and which left many unable to access or afford care. Emotionally and spiritually, we may be the loneliest and most disconnected we have ever been. We are disconnected from the what is most sacred about her humanness; from each other and from mother earth. Some such as Arthur Brooks maintain that the most disconnected may be we males between the ages of 60 and 70+.
In my work as a professional counselor I often asked individuals, “What are your core values? What are your spiritual goals?” If the person is an architect I might ask, “How would you like individuals to treat each other in the building or structure you are designing?” If a professional fund raiser, I might ask, “Does the mission or the purpose of the cause or organization for which you are being paid to raise funds concern you?" A more general question I ask is, “Are tasks or people more important? Is your primary goal, whether stopping to purchase a quart of milk or attending a board meeting, to have positive and life affirming relationships or to accomplish tasks?”
Covid-19 is challenging all of us to put each other at risk by gathering without masks and failing to social distance, to practice safe behavior, or to find creative ways to stay in touch. Covid-19 is also making us even more aware of the gaps in our health care system; gaps of which many of us have been acutely aware for a long time. It is also reminding many of the fragility of our capitalistic economic system; a system which is designed to avoid the needs and aspirations we share with each other.
Politically, it is a time when many of us find it difficult to have a discussion about important issues. It seems easiest to throw pronouncements at each other.
Daily I have exchanges with others instead of discussions. I attempt to avoid exchanging sound bites with others but I find myself, at times, at a loss for words. It is easy for even my silence to become a sound bite.
Arthur Brooks, the author and think tanker, talks and writes about how to build a constructive life. He maintains that “There’s almost nothing truly meaningful we accomplish which does not have pain or loss as a part of it.”(Arthur Brooks: The Washingtonian Interview by Benjamin Wofford, November 10, 2020). Mr. Brooks also maintains that “The secret of happiness are faith, family, friends and work where you serve others…”
I have often maintained that we need to be teaching children not only the mechanics of math, writing, and reading but, most importantly, the importance of asking what sort of world we want to build with these skills? We need to ask how the skills we are learning are going to lead to being part of a universe which complements all the other parts. We are all part of a whole.
As I resettle in a new home in a town I knew only for a couple of years in high school; as a town in which I attended high school while working nearly 40 hours a week, I want/need to be asking how I can contribute to this community. Whether I am talking with the security guard or the person in charge of managing the building and its services, the clerk at the library at the exquisite downtown Tulsa public library, the clerk at the tag or title agency, or the lovely manager of local bank at which I opened accounts, I need to know what I am bringing to each interaction? Am I bringing a sense of loving presence, a sense of community which can survive and thrive during the visit of Covid-19; a faith that beneath the political rhetoric we are all on the same team with the same goal.
These may be the best of times in which we believe there is a light which many of us have forgotten to turn on. These may be the best of times; times when we become honest about our shortcomings and trusting of our ability to be more than our differences. It is a time of opportunity to celebrate what happens when we make relationships primary.
Written November 14,2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Once again this week I was often reminded of the Charles Dickens’ quote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” (A Tale of Two Cities)
Certainly it would be easy to fall into the darkness of despair in these United States. Politically it seems we are more divided than ever and poised for a battle over control of the seat of our government or one branch of it. Economically and medically Covid-19 seems to challenge the capacity of a health care system which was already the most expensive of any nation and which left many unable to access or afford care. Emotionally and spiritually, we may be the loneliest and most disconnected we have ever been. We are disconnected from the what is most sacred about her humanness; from each other and from mother earth. Some such as Arthur Brooks maintain that the most disconnected may be we males between the ages of 60 and 70+.
In my work as a professional counselor I often asked individuals, “What are your core values? What are your spiritual goals?” If the person is an architect I might ask, “How would you like individuals to treat each other in the building or structure you are designing?” If a professional fund raiser, I might ask, “Does the mission or the purpose of the cause or organization for which you are being paid to raise funds concern you?" A more general question I ask is, “Are tasks or people more important? Is your primary goal, whether stopping to purchase a quart of milk or attending a board meeting, to have positive and life affirming relationships or to accomplish tasks?”
Covid-19 is challenging all of us to put each other at risk by gathering without masks and failing to social distance, to practice safe behavior, or to find creative ways to stay in touch. Covid-19 is also making us even more aware of the gaps in our health care system; gaps of which many of us have been acutely aware for a long time. It is also reminding many of the fragility of our capitalistic economic system; a system which is designed to avoid the needs and aspirations we share with each other.
Politically, it is a time when many of us find it difficult to have a discussion about important issues. It seems easiest to throw pronouncements at each other.
Daily I have exchanges with others instead of discussions. I attempt to avoid exchanging sound bites with others but I find myself, at times, at a loss for words. It is easy for even my silence to become a sound bite.
Arthur Brooks, the author and think tanker, talks and writes about how to build a constructive life. He maintains that “There’s almost nothing truly meaningful we accomplish which does not have pain or loss as a part of it.”(Arthur Brooks: The Washingtonian Interview by Benjamin Wofford, November 10, 2020). Mr. Brooks also maintains that “The secret of happiness are faith, family, friends and work where you serve others…”
I have often maintained that we need to be teaching children not only the mechanics of math, writing, and reading but, most importantly, the importance of asking what sort of world we want to build with these skills? We need to ask how the skills we are learning are going to lead to being part of a universe which complements all the other parts. We are all part of a whole.
As I resettle in a new home in a town I knew only for a couple of years in high school; as a town in which I attended high school while working nearly 40 hours a week, I want/need to be asking how I can contribute to this community. Whether I am talking with the security guard or the person in charge of managing the building and its services, the clerk at the library at the exquisite downtown Tulsa public library, the clerk at the tag or title agency, or the lovely manager of local bank at which I opened accounts, I need to know what I am bringing to each interaction? Am I bringing a sense of loving presence, a sense of community which can survive and thrive during the visit of Covid-19; a faith that beneath the political rhetoric we are all on the same team with the same goal.
These may be the best of times in which we believe there is a light which many of us have forgotten to turn on. These may be the best of times; times when we become honest about our shortcomings and trusting of our ability to be more than our differences. It is a time of opportunity to celebrate what happens when we make relationships primary.
Written November 14,2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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