Change of Season

Welcome to another month! Autumn now. So soon after summer which began late and way too cool! Summer was short. Pleasant but short. Now fall is with us – cooler weather, gray skies, rain and leaves falling, turning color and preparing for winter.

This summer we enjoyed a summer with green everywhere. The trees, shrubs and lawns were green. Country croplands were green. Open meadow lands were green.  Now we will slowly turn tan and finally leafless. But past years we have endured dry weeks that turned grass straw brown. We missed that this year. Plenty of moisture in the Midwest that provided nurture for rooted life and wonderful green landscapes.

We awoke this morning to rain and 63 degrees. The high is forecast to be 65 degrees. So a cool day with sleeping hours in the 40’s. That’s all good. But gray? I don’t want the gray! Please, no!

I’m grasping for something positive to think about. We have had a visit from the Pope in America. That was a pleasant interlude wherein millions of people publicly gave witness to their beliefs and hopes. The Pope attracts that sort of reaction, doesn’t he? He demonstrates a manner that is peaceful, hopeful, and utterly kind. You know he expects you to be on your best behavior. You begin to sense the peace within him. And you want it for yourself as well.

So, listening to his voice slowly speak his speeches so interpreters could properly translate his words, we heard his thoughts come forth simply and directly. Language was easy to understand. Basic logic, too. In moments such as these the message is well understood and nourished by our own hopes and dreams. The words have more weight in his delivery.

Maybe we can restart our lives in a more positive manner?

Then we were thrown into the state visits by China and Russia. Issues of global significance attend both these nations. And all the world watched and listened for hope of change and peace. Open trade. Copyright protection. Healthy markets for all to serve. National pride and honor sustained. Global community needs focused on. Peace. Salving the wounds of open hostility and chaos in the Middle East.

Were any of these aims discussed? Yes. Were any of these issues solved? No. In truth we expect more chaos from the machinations and posturing of Russia. I guess they think the world will continue to accept their threats and pranks. I think they misread the global community’s temper.

I think the seasons are changing and that mankind’s temper is changing as well. Tyrants do not provide peace or freedom. Only plunder and selfish aims are served. If America is included in that, a giant mistake is made on the part of our frenemies. America shares its wealth and goodwill to any and all that need it. Such largesse can be misconstrued and mistaken. We are not idiots. We are hopeful and helpful. Be a part of the solution, or be a part of the problem. Take your pick. You cannot choose both.

Russia: take note. We are solving problems and asking others to ante up the manpower, resources and funding to make peace a reality. You are not. You are maintaining a war-like posture and daring the world to challenge you. You are weak and growing weaker. You have neither the money or war materiel to wage any hostility. Only threats. Only threats.

The UN has been subjected to decades of manipulation by ill-mannered and selfish leaders from weaker regions of the world. We have helped strengthen them. And they must figure they have no responsibility to help make good things happen in lands not their own.

They are badly mistaken. It is time for all nations to step up and be counted. Support the UN, support world peace, or be ground to dust by history’s ungainly actions that surely will follow. What a waste that would be.

I hope for peace. We all win from peace. And then we can do and learn what is most possible. At some point ideals matter or all is lost. I am an optimist. Given a choice, I believe mankind will choose the higher ideal and peace. Sometimes it means we have to stand up to the bullies in the room to make that possible.

I wonder who will stand up to them? Will the change of seasons see a change of will?

October 1, 2015