SEEMED FITTING TO POST AGAIN SINCE THE TRIAL HAS JUST BEEN IN THE NEWS RE: THE CHARLESTON CHURCH KILLINGS OF 2015...AND SEEMED FITTING GIVEN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE WHICH FINDS US SITTING ON THE EDGE OF ANGST!


6/28/15

Dear Reader,

I heard something this morning that really resonated with me.

The mayor of Charleston addressed the terrible tragedy that happened in his city.  He was asked why he thought the people responded as they did with such 'grace'.

His answer was that they had worked together to be a community so there was
 "respect" and "affection."

I was so taken with that descriptor.  We often hear of the importance of respect, tolerance, kindness, etc....

....BUT, I don't ever remember hearing a public figure use the word "affection".

Affection:  a gentle feeling of fondness

LOVE IT!

Wish we could find that more often in this world.  Just old fashioned affection for each other can bring something to the table that softens hearts and gentles minds.

Maybe that is why I struggle so with how we are with one another anymore.

Maybe its because all these causes that we fight over are more than causes to me.  They are PEOPLE....people for whom I have great AFFECTION.

Whites, Blacks,Hispanics, Americans(north, south, east and west), Hungarians, Haitians, Africans, Canadians,  Brits, gun owners, gun safety advocates, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, capitalists, socialists, immigrants (legal and not), inmates, homeless, home owners, agnostics, atheists, Christians from left to right, pro-lifers, pro-choicers, mentally challenged, physically challenged, etc., etc., etc....you get my drift.

I have lived long, deep and wide and been blessed to meet a vast array of folk.

Folk for whom I have GREAT AFFECTION.

So, when I hear all the angst toward one another over 'causes', I find it hard to not think of PEOPLE, flesh and blood people, who represent those causes.  People for whom I have "a gentle feeling of fondness."

And that affection DOES gentle my mind and soften my heart.

THAT is what has came to surface in Charleston;  a people who could have reacted with hate have reacted with forgiveness.  Because of shared respect.  Because of shared affection.

THAT is what 'grace' looks like...

...and we don't get to SEE grace much anymore.

But, when we DO see it, it is a glorious thing to behold.

It is how I want to be when I grow up.

Affectionately,

cheryl