Pathway to Future

This was a busy week. Six new clients – four by assignment, two by referral. All were interesting. All were convincing and passionate about their sense of commitment. They are on their own paths to a future marked by service to others and building a fair and just society.

How so, you ask? Well, interesting you ask!

My answer is pretty simple: each of these clients sees a problem – one they have lived through, or someone close to them has survived or is still struggling with. They refuse to allow this problem to define them or their society.

Instead, they decided to do something about it. Most have worked alone. One young mother learned her son was autistic and she jumped into researching what that meant. She learned that most families do not have health insurance sufficient to cover the costs of testing, research and treatment of various outlying symptoms. Her solution? Buy insurance coverage in bulk and deliver to families in need. This year alone she has raised $72,000 to purchase insurance and is in the process of delivering it to those who need it. She came to me to learn how to expand her operation so the load is shared by a team of volunteers, not just her.

Another was dismayed by systemic racism in his community. He set out to define what that term meant and arrived at a stunning realization that systemic racism is so embedded in our social structure most do not recognize it. So, he and several others created an organization that is changing their community. He wants to expand so it is adopted in other communities throughout the nation. Their model is impressive.

Another client is stunned at the enormity of the need for reimagining public education at all levels. The task to be done is humongous yet little is done. Research at universities, yes; change in local districts, no. And in the classroom, how do teachers implement such change? How to invent the new and engineer its adoption while replacing the old methods? That’s the job ahead. A worthy one. How to make this happen? She will find a way.

And other clients with similar ardor to make a difference in their communities, regions and nation. America is birthing anew like it always has. The ebbing of the old is always slow and painful, but ebb away it does. The old has been useful but it must yield to the new and better. Our eyes and minds must be on improving who and what we are. The promise is great.

And so very possible.

One benefit of COVID-19 is the lockdown we hate. But that has given us time to think through a lot of things. connecting to others electronically we are still able to function and create the new. Like the chrysalis, amazing new things await their emergence to light.

Just you wait! The path forward is heartening and nutritious to the soul and mind.

October 25, 2020