From the Interim

 

More than the other three seasons, autumn has a way of reminding us nothing and no one lasts forever. It’s nature’s way of telling us the Eastern traditions have it right: Everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. Just ask the falling leaves.

Impermanence may be our lot, but it’s our common lot. We really are in this together.

These thoughts are on my mind as each news cycle brings reports of a government for the few, not the many – an administration more concerned with renaming bodies of water than looking after actual bodies or water.

We’re entitled to some measure of despair. The further erosion of institutions designed to help us take care of each other – public education, preschooling, medicine, policing, courts, government – is real. Our fears are justified.

But we are not powerless, friends. Being in this together can take the forms of our time and energy, donations to worthy causes and candidates for office (if we have money to spare) and just refusing to turn away from one another. Refusing to stop believing in one another.

So practice healthy self-care, everyone. Learn what others are doing to hold this country together despite the times. Believe that these troubles also have a beginning, middle and end. And when you doubt this, just ask the falling leaves.