As we look at where we are in the world today, we face many challenges to our faith and to our ideals. A steady government system that we felt in the past cared for our basic needs is now under scrutiny. Previously, through good governance, we shared a sense of being part of a large collective community. We now find that there is a sense that we may have to be the ones to lead the task of caring for ourselves and our own families. Clearly, there are inconsistencies in the overall guidance that Americans are receiving these days. Masks – no masks, groups – no groups, etc. On Memorial Day, Florida opened its beaches, restaurants, and retail stores almost as if nothing had happened and most people were not wearing masks. States on the West Coast and in New England are not open or are opening slowly and safely. For the most part, this makes us ask questions like is it safe to go out or is it safe to start to return to parts of our previous existence? At this juncture, we are all faced with multiple questions. We find ourselves having time to ask ourselves who we are as individuals and who we are within our relationships and what will our relationship be with the rest of the world.
Many of our readers may be exploring these questions through their religion or faith. Others may find solace through other significant means, such as meditation, the beach, or communing with nature. No matter what your faith or how you practice it, we may all have something in common. That commonality is a shared sense of community which includes rituals, traditions, a sense of identity, and cohesion. We would like to think that all of us who practice these rituals, either formally or informally, share the common principles of being good neighbors, practicing love, forgiveness, and, when necessary, repentance.
As we find ourselves at these crossroads, what comes to mind is something we learned as children, the Golden Rule. Remember the simple principle of loving one another? It is the foundation for the Golden Rule which can be stated in two ways, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” The modern interpretation is treat people the way you would like to be treated. Such a simple notion is not always so simple. It involves love, like the kind of love where one shows empathy for others. This kind of love can make us feel vulnerable. Another type of love, that of friendship for others, brings us human happiness. It is a large part of what makes us human. As a friend, we share common values, interests, activities, and try to be non-judgmental. True friendship can be felt in the heart.
As we tackle our present day world, we may find it a challenge to share our hearts and souls with others. Recent circumstances may have exhausted or weakened our spirits and eroded our trust and we may be seeking only connections that we know are safe. It could be the perfect time to revisit the Golden Rule and be concerned about others as well. How about the neighbor that lives alone, the person that is out of a job, one who lost a family member to the virus, or the professional who must work daily under stressful circumstances?
We believe that it is especially important to consider the elderly during these times. This may be a person who is facing uncertainty and possibly spending the rest of their lives in this strange new world. For them, this time may bring about memories of past wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, medical eruptions such as Polio, Measles, Diphtheria, and the Flu. These past occurrences may well echo what we are living through today. Today, we are losing elders who survived the 1918 flu to Covid-19. We are suffering the loss of those who have worked hard their entire lives, paid their dues, raised families, and gave back to society many times over. These elders and those who are weathering this current medical and political storm deserve our greatest respect. Throughout their lives, they have sacrificed, worked hard in difficult times, taught well those coming along behind them, and set the pace for the rest of society to follow. Without them, we would not be where we are today and would not be enjoying the luxuries that we have. Our current society seems to lack the memory of how this country was built and maintained by those who are the older generation. They should remain genuinely valued to this day. We need and want our older generation to continue to teach us how to survive and thrive in these times for without them we would lack the underpinnings of what builds a great society.
Could it be time to revisit the Golden Rule and treat people the way you would like to be treated? One day, if we are lucky, we will be facing similar times and wondering if we are wanted, needed, and valued by our society. We can only hope that the answer will be yes. The only way that we will get there is, if today, we regard our elders in that manner. In many cultures, they are esteemed, kept in high regard, and looked to for their guidance. They are essential for teaching and guiding us so that we may be successful. We would not think of creating a structure without a firm foundation. Our elders are that foundation and are our roots and without them we would topple and fall and meet our demise.
In the words of Jane Goodall, who is now 85 years of age, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”
Some experts have stated that it may be 3 to 5 years before we have developed the structure to adaptively recover from the Covid-19 crisis. During this time, we all have the opportunity to make a difference in our own way and in our own time. When it feels safe, put yourself out there. Be a friend, try to understand something that is difficult to understand, and soften your heart. What you will get back will be two fold and, in the process, you might just find out how wonderful you really are.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
As always, Be Kind and Stay Safe.
