Choices.
We all have them. Don’t we?
Some big.
Some small.
And all those in-between.
I could have come here today and shared my monthly reads from May. That was my planned topic of conversation for the first week of June. And yet, it feels wrong to not acknowledge the atrocity of a stolen life.
I am not here to offer some meaningful answers or insights. I do not have those. I am here to hold space. To listen. To learn. To do better. I realize I stand in a place of privilege. I have 18 and 20 year old sons. I have my own sets of fears for them. But I do not have the fears of mothers who have to tell their children to fear for their safety just because of the color of their skin. George Floyd was somebody’s son. Ahmaud Arbery was somebody’s son. Countless others were somebody’s sons. My heart breaks each time I think about that. I cannot know what it is like to walk in all those mother’s shoes, but I do know what it is to be a mother. And I am just here to acknowledge all those who suffer at the hands of injustice. I’ve been reading accounts of life through the eyes of the African American people and I’d encourage you to do the same. Educating yourself is a key to understanding.
I will be back later in the week with my reads from last month. I share a thought from my final read of the month: John Steinbeck’s East of Eden. It is the concept of “timshel”. It is a Hebrew word that translates to “Thou Mayest”. Its premise is that we have a choice.
A choice between good and evil.
Right and wrong.
Justice and Injustice.
What will you choose?
Let your light shine!
Amy
*the photos are of the Dr Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge located in downtown Roanoke, Virginia.
It’s all a bit mad, isn’t it.
It certainly is!
I share that space with you Amy. To listen. To learn. And to awaken. 🙏
As Oprah quotes of Maya Angelou “do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” We are learning. 💕. Sending you much love, my friend.
💙🙏
Hi Amy, The “Dare to Dream” photo is beautiful! Choices. Holding space. To listen. To learn. To do better. You bring up great points and you say it well. Ooooh, you have now read “East of Eden.” I will be interested to read your opinion of the book. Take care.🙏
Thank you so much, Erica. I didn’t feel like I had much value to add to the conversation, but I didn’t feel right staying silent. 💕. My thoughts on “East of Eden” will be coming up soon!
I like the Desmond Tutu quote. It says eloquently what I’ve been thinking about all jumbled-like. I like your idea that we need and can listen/learn/awaken so that this point in time moves us forward instead of keeping us stuck.
I do think that quote says it all and so much better than myself! I really hope we finally move from this stuck position.