It don’t matter to me
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
And, honey, for once in our life
Let’s take our chances and roll the dice
I can be your lucky penny
You can be my four-leaf clover
Starting over
Starting over

Chris Stapleton — Starting Over

Welcoming a New Year. Embracing a fresh start. Visualizing bright shiny possibilities. Manifesting a royal flush in the poker game of life. I want right now to feel like that. I want to skip lightly like Chris Stapleton’s Starting Over, but I tread slowly like Leon Bridge’s Sweeter. Grasping for four-leaf clovers in a world of stories repeating. That is where I am. Caught in the falling apart and coming back together. Caught between fear and faith. Caught between truth and reconciliation. Too much has been lost, for too many, for too long for healing to happen without honesty rooted in justice and love. I suppose that is where we all are.

Inspired by the music of Anna Clyne: Dance, I. when you are broken open (a meditation on Rumi), I began a daily reflection on the Sufi poet Rumi. I bought Coleman Barks’, The Soul of Rumi a few years ago and decided right now is the best time start learning from it. There is no order to my musing. In one example, The Moment considers the fleeting preciousness of each moment of life.

In thinking about our falling apart and coming together, my heart breaks for Congressman Jamie Raskin and his family. In the wake of his son Tommy’s death, he issued a statement – Statement of Congressman Jamie Raskin and Sarah Bloom Raskin on the Remarkable Life of Tommy Raskin. The statement tells the story of a remarkable human being who was deeply loved and left this world too soon. Tommy’s farewell note [taken from the Raskins’ statement] reads, “‘Please forgive me. My illness won today. Please look after each other, the animals, and the global poor for me. All my love, Tommy.’” I can say having read his story told by his parents, our world is a darker place without Tommy’s light.

In the midst of grieving Tommy’s loss, Congressman Raskin was present for the insurrection at the United States Capital on January 6th and is currently leading the impeachment effort to hold Donald Trump accountable for inciting the violence that day. His courage and strength are a testament to his love of his son and his country. As I consider the New Year, Congressman Raskin’s story exemplifies the forever changed world in which we live, and the responsibility we all have to be love in it.

I want to share the hope I find in the shifting political tide. In thinking back over last year, I remember watching President Barack Obama eulogize Congressman John Lewis. That feels like a million years ago now. It is important in times where words like “unprecedented” and “norm shattering” and “never before” are too frequently uttered without hyperbole, that we look to examples of leadership and love. As President Obama explained, Congressman Lewis sowed the seeds of love. Change is happening, and will continue to happen, because of the work of his hands and heart. His lessons live on in the laws he passed and the leaders he mentored. That gives me hope.

On a happy note, Elephant Journal published my story, How Federal Prisoners Schooled me on the meaning of Gratitude, this week. It feels great to know that it is being shared.

I want to give the last word this week to Brene Brown. Her podcast, Unlocking Us, often gives me insight and support. This week, Unlocking Us is focused on words, actions, dehumanizations, and accountability. Food for thoughts as I consider starting over this New Year.

Read Weekly Wide-Awake: Starting Over

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