Sixty Seconds

We all enjoy pretty things. Beautiful beaches, healthy birds, smiling sea turtles, children playing in the white sand. Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing images such as these when we turn on our televisions or fire up the computer and hop on the internet. It’s our nature to gravitate to things that don’t cause us pain. Right?
When I close my eyes at night, I want to think happy thoughts as much as anybody. Children frolicking in the water or building sand castles, birds splashing into crystal-clear saltwater and everything perfect, healthy and sun-shiny. Why would I expose myself to anything other than this image? Why would you?

The problem is that humans have a knack for forgetting everything that doesn’t affect our own little corner of the world. Oh…there was a flood last week in…ugh…where was that? Oh yes, and there was also something to do with pelicans and sea turtles…now what was that? Okay, so that’s an exaggeration. We all are right there with everything happening in the Gulf of Mexico and the communities of humans and wildlife affected–up to speed, informed and we’ve all written our senators. (empty pause)

Let’s face it. We do not like to be around pain, witness it or be reminded of it. We say, “it brings me down.” I agree that watching the news is, at best, a downer. But there are other ways to stay informed, to stay connected to what is happening in the world, without completing tuning out and glossing over everything with a dose of amnesia.

So how can we overcome this fundamental flaw to disconnect from painful, current events yet remain connected in a life-enhancing way? First, we can make a commitment to inform ourselves on current events, while not allowing ourselves to become enmeshed in the hype of the event, the spin. We can take steps to let our senators and president know how we feel and what action we want to suggest. Remember, our elected officials are elected by US. If we don’t tell them what’s on our mind, they are free to let those who ARE filling their ear, run the country. Scary!! We all have a voice. With the internet, writing our senators is so easy. So is writing the president.

And lastly, I suggest that one reason we don’t engage in such painful events is that we feel powerless to make a difference and that really is depressing. So…find a way to make a difference. In the Gulf Oil Spill Crisis, adopt a family along the Gulf Coast who needs an encouraging letter once in a while. Let them know you care. Set aside a few minutes each day to light a candle or say a prayer for wildlife or people there. Write your senator. Write the president. Get a group together to send care packages to families via churches along the Gulf Coast. There are ways we can take small actions to empower ourselves and be part of the change we are wanting.

Let us not get sucked into an apathetic, forgetful attitude of disconnect from the suffering happening around us. We can engage and find ways to make a difference. Just because there’s not oil in your river or lake doesn’t mean it won’t affect you. We are all connected as a human family and we’re all living in a web of life that includes all creatures, lands and waters. If we do nothing else, let us take one minute a day to focus on the Gulf Coast in a positive way. Sixty seconds…12 breaths….anyone can do that.