An Elephant in the Room?

Picture by Erika Crofut

I’m not saying the word.
Are you saying the word?
Do we talk about it?
Do we not talk about it?

Let me whisper:

E–l–e–c–t–i–o–n…………

Coming soon to a country near you!
Coming soon to a democracy near you!

I have been—
Everything.
Every human emotion:

Excited—terrified—
Engaged—justifiably righteous—
Furious—awed—
And
Almost
Practically
Possibly
Hopeful!

Oh! Friends.
As we face these next few months,
There is plenty to be hopeful about.
Fingers and toes and all possible extremities and organs crossed
For the best to unfold for all.

Hope is alive.

I met Roshi Joan Halifax when I studied at Upaya Zen Center, taking a yearlong training called
Socially Engaged Buddhism.

Roshi Joan is brilliant, kind and beyond-inspiring.

She creates for us the distinction between hope and wise hope.

Here’s how I understand the distinctions between hope and wise hope.
Hope?
It’s possibly a slippery slope, no?
It holds the potential to slip-slide us away from the moment.
Like some premature transcendence, does a door open to la-la-thinking?
Oh, if only….?
Oh, I hope for….?
Oh, when that happens, then…?

Roshi Joan changes it up and offers us the concept of wise hope.
Hope that checks us into the moment.
Hope that inspires us
To take action,
To be present,
To show up
To stay connected
To ourselves,
To each other.

Wise hope checks us
Into the moment,
Where everything,
Everything
Becomes
Possible.

~~~
Here’s a super summary of Roshi’s ideas, from Lions Roar, the Buddhist publication:

Read Here

~~~

Whatever happens on November 5th will happen on November 5th.
Who do I choose to be in it?
How do I choose to live through this precious and extraordinary time?

What about you?
Who do you choose to be, as we live through this
Precarious
And
Extraordinary
Time?
~~~

Here’s an interesting perspective from the bigger world. This short video, created by the Parkway School System (probably in Missouri). It’s a most unusual and wonderful thing for a school to offer:

~~~
Dear Friends,

Yes!

We can hope.
Yes!

We can imagine the best to unfold for all.
Yes.

No matter the outcome of the days,
We will find our way forward.

We are equipped
And
We
Are
Able.

May all beings benefit from our time shared.

Blessings,
Aruni

So dear friends.
YES. WE CAN HAVE HOPE.

An Elephant in the Room?