Seeing Anew (vol. 3, no. 10)

Here are a few things I’m sharing this month:

1. Question I’m living with:

• “What kind of world can we build for our children?” – Margaret Meade

2. Quote I’m considering:

• “I am deeply convinced that change must be relationship-centered. We don’t create change purely on the basis of the content of a policy. We don’t create change purely on the basis of winning an argument or, even, winning a particular vote at a given time. Change has something to do with who we’re going to choose to be together, as the human family.” – John Paul Lederach (ht On Being)

3. Poem I’m pondering:

“Let’s remake the world with words” by Gregory Orr

Let’s remake the world with words.
Not frivolously, nor
To hide from what we fear,
But with a purpose.

Let’s, as Wordsworth said, remove
“The dust of custom” so things
Shine again, each object arrayed,
In its robe of original light.

And then we’ll see the world,
As if for the first time.
As once we gazed at the beloved,
Who was gazing at us.

4. Something inspiring

• William Shatner (Captain Kirk) experienced profound grief when he traveled to outer space. “There’s a name for what Shatner felt: it’s called the “overview effect.” The term was coined by space philosopher Frank White. “The overview effect is a cognitive and emotional shift in a person’s awareness, their consciousness and their identity when they see the Earth from space,” White told NPR. “They’re at a distance and they’re seeing the Earth … in the context of the universe.”

5. More than a year ago, I wrote a blog about Five People. I did not know their names, our interactions were brief and distanced. And, I would not know them if I were ever to meet them again; however, they had an outsized impact on my life.

• After publishing that blog, a childhood friend of mine (Mark Baker) told me the name of the man who sat atop my list at number one. His name was Howard Seaver. Mark told me that he visited Howard and his wife in their nursing home. Two weeks ago, Mark reached out to let me know that Howard had passed away. Howard was 96. “What a life he had here in our community!” Mark added. Yes, what a life! Thank you Howard.

If you’re reading this newsletter for the first time, you can read previous issues here, view lists of poems, questions, quotes and songs I’ve shared before here, and subscribe here.

Thanks so much. And, have a great day! – shawn