Over the past few weeks, there has been little good news to take to bed with sweet dreams in mind. Being an eternal optimist, pessimism does not come naturally. Having spent ten years in Mississippi, you learn that dwelling on an endless supply of deficits does not create a climate of hope. The burdens borne in that state by history and inheritance are deep still, no matter that it is the 21st century and civilized society is supposed to have fully arrived. Regrettably, there and elsewhere, civility has not risen to the plane of us living and getting along together just fine. Having yet again thought and voiced this gloom only illustrates that desultory thinking is a cul-de-sac from which escape is difficult - which got me to thinking about our need for good news.
Recently, I watched on YouTube a short video clip of the release of “Andre”, a sea turtle that underwent a long
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rehabilitation at the Juno-based Loggerhead Marine Life Center. Our staff met there in July to do some future year planning. The place was abuzz with kids and filled with the energy of doing something worthy and measureable, one turtle at a time. What stirs the heart about this place is the sum of all the Center represents to our region, oceans, and marine life. Having had the opportunity to encounter this deep sea creature on the eve of its release, I found myself, tears welling up, watching the video of Andre’s trundle off into the ocean. I felt the same ripple of joy of those on the beach who cheered and applauded. Afterwards, I thought sheepishly to myself that things must really be bad when all it takes is a turtle’s release to provoke weeping. Something stirred that hadn’t been touched in too long a time- a moment made poignant by the recognition that something is inherently right and wonderful in the world when the survival of even a lowly sea turtle matters.
Calling forth and savoring those things all about you that offer strength and solace is an important exercise in a troubled world. Si Kahn, a colleague and songwriter, describes this as being able, in the face of great challenges, to “keep on keepin’ on”. We live in an era of forbidding and recalcitrant gloom, driven there by winds of uncertainty that are changing the world we thought we knew. To retreat from that ledge, we need the reassurance that, even in the midst of a stampede toward the unknown, beauty can be found in how we choose to see the world. Seeing beauty is redemption from pessimism. Release from pessimism is how we build with hope, brick by brick, a better future. Here are two more things I would nominate as “Right in the World” that measure on the scale of awesome that is proportionate to saving Andre, the sea turtle:
The quality and commitment of our communities’ nonprofit leadership and the tremendous asset these individuals represent toward achieving, in our time, a more just, humane and caring world. Call me prejudiced but anyone who is engaged in the nonprofit sector these days has to have nerves of steel and the courage of a lion. Our region profits enormously from an abundance of seasoned nonprofit professionals that are accomplishing important milestones toward improved quality of life in our local communities. They make this commitment of vocation by choice and with a fierce loyalty to serving those who often need societies’ help the most. They don’t just make lemonade out of lemons; they transform lemons into stars on a dark night.
Advocates working to protect and sustain now and for future generations, conservation of Florida’s unique environmental resources: in Florida, growth to prosperity is as ketchup is to fries. How many times is it necessary to stand in front of a metaphorical bulldozer, to challenge and question, the wholesale destruction forever of what cannot be put back or replaced? “Economic Progress” and its evil twin, “Progress-at-Any-Cost”, are how we continue to frame unacceptable choices with no terms of escape and a tiger behind every door. With all the hindsight of which Florida ought to have plenty, we deserve a more intelligent discourse on issues of sustainability. The Floridians who raise their voices and bring vision, passion, and their reasoned intelligence to protection and conservation of the environment are today’s wilderness warriors. We can be thankful that caring did not stop with Teddy Roosevelt, as it’s very likely there’d be no Andres left.
The views expressed in this blog are mine and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Community Foundation.
