The politics of eternity is boring

 

The news is that there have been significantly fewer riots and incidents of racial unrest this year compared to 2020. 100 years from now, this could be remembered as the year that America decided that we can “all just get along” after all. All in favor? All opposed? 
 
I thought so. You don’t believe in America anymore. Here’s the thing. We’re still here. Still together. Maybe we’re taking a little break right now, but the temper tantrums we had last year were just a warm-up. We haven’t worked out our differences just yet. 
 
It has become all the rage to boo and cheer for the story the media spins about politics. In this story, politics is a way of characterizing the world in terms of who the real Americans are - we’re good / they’re bad and we’re in/they’re out. That is the politics of eternity. 
 
Learning Stories are less “Eternal Struggle Between Good and Evil” and more “Be Here Now.” Not that there cannot be cosmic forces at play, but the general rule is that anyone who demonstrates courage and a willingness to learn is a real hero. There is no shame for anyone willing to learn. 
 
Outrage attracts viewers, and sparks engagement that attracts advertising dollars, but the engagement and the attraction are an eternal bore. An eternal nightmare for sure, but sadly predictable. An uninteresting waste of time for an eternity. 
 
Although a call for vengeance may create a compelling story it is ultimately a plot that leads to death. Vengeance is a dupe, a perversion of our instinct to protect that cannot move the story forward from generation to generation like forgiveness. Without moving forward there is no learning. No Learning Story. 
 
Through reflection on what is happening, what we might be learning about, and what we might be ready to try next, we teach that politics is about changing the world for the better, and not giving in to hatred. There are not just two sides to a Learning Story. Multiple perspectives are needed to support the hero’s journey of every child to share the spiritual heartbeat of their family with the world.   
 
Notice what you are doing with your time every day. How much time do you spend with your mind made up about the way the world is compared to wondering about how to make it better? How much time do you spend enjoying the moment? 
 
Recognize that you, and people like you, are not the only kind of real Americans. Real Americans have totally different ideas about how to make life better for the grandchildren of their grandchildren. Don’t bother trying to change their mind. Try to understand what you have in common.   
 
Respond by finding out what might be possible for your family to restore the dignity of anyone who felt unheard, unloved, or disrespected during a period of isolation like we just went through with the pandemic. Ask questions to find out what life is like for different members of your family instead of giving up on them.   
 
 
* GODSPEED stands for “Gather Only Data in Sync with the Purpose of Every Excellent Deed.” 


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