Outside, it is a beautiful early summer morning. Birds singing, flowers in bloom, vegetables growing and ripening on the vines. The sun shines in a clear blue sky. On the surface, everything is fine.
However, the headline of the morning paper hints at a darkness that yet remains in the world. A former football coach has been convicted of terrible crimes committed against the children he was supposedly helping. Well, at least parts of our justice system are still functioning; the monster will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Unfortunately, the victims that testified against him are now, for the most part, adults. Why did it take so long?
This being an election year here in the states, if one were to turn on the television ( I can hardly stand to do so anymore) you would see ad after ad from opposing candidates, each telling lies, half-truths and even facts to convince us that we should not vote for the other guy, and by default, vote for them. It is a sad commentary on how our system works, or rather, doesn’t work.
Our economy continues to falter and fester, along with all other economies around the globe. Our political parties point and blame and do nothing to change the situation. One party proposes something that might help, but the other party, perhaps fearing even a modicum of success from the initiative, fail to take any action. Actually, they work against any action being taken at all. In their insane desire to make the world over to suit themselves, they are quite willing to allow it to disintegrate away to nothing.
It’s all too sad. It’s depressing. It makes me lose hope.
In the midst of my despair, this morning on a social media site I use to stay connected with old friends I have not had a chance to see face to face in too long of a time, I saw a picture. It was a picture of a baby. The child of the Swedish cousins of an old friend, who lives on the East Coast, adorned with a crown of wildflowers in celebration of the Midsummer holiday. Perhaps it’s a holiday we should import. Looks fun.
I don’t know the child or her parents personally, and will probably never meet them. But I would certainly like to get to know the people with the good sense to celebrate a season by offering beauty and hope to the world, instead of focusing on the negative that surrounds us. It makes me want to at least try to do something that will leave the world a better place for this sweet little girl, and all that will follow.
So for breakfast this morning, I would like a large scoop of hope. Plop it right on top of my plate of despair, and let it run down and cover everything. And after I have my breakfast, I think I’ll go out and tend to my garden. Something needs to start growing in this world. Maybe something that will change it for the better. Perhaps we should all start the day with a hat of wildflowers. What could it hurt?
I met the parents and grandparents (along with 150 other Swedish cousins)of little Stella in the picture when Mo and I went to Sweden last July for a family reunion. We loved Sweden and were impressed with the simplicity and sensibility of their life styles. Midsommar celebration is just an example of this. I'll take a scoop of that hope.
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