THE YEAR THUS FAR

It seems that I captured 2020 in a single image. Our world has unravelled in so many ways this year. Each week, there is some new terror that has befallen us. The year started out as one facing the terrifying uncertainty of COVID-19. As the months progressed, the disease took so many lives and impacted so many. I was out of action for 10 days in August with some mystery illness. Based on the results of my COVID test, I was not infected with the disease. I was, however, bed-ridden for over a week. Thankfully, I am now feeling more like myself and hope whatever it was that I had does not return. I can not fathom the pain, suffering, and emotional terror that those infected with COVID are going through. If all we have to do to help is to go out less, wear masks, socially distance and wash our hands, is it really too much to ask society to do?

We are now in September, and I fear what the next 3 months will bring. My only hope is that through the US election, we will have new leadership. Anything must be better than the awful mess and hate fueling leadership the US has had for the past 3 1/2 years. No matter your political standing, it is time we had l leader with morals, compassion, love and an understanding of the awesome responsibility given to the President of the United States. I am, however fearful, based on the most recent events in the US that we will have to bear 4 more years of hatred, division, pain and embarrassment. When I am not full of dread at the possibility or Trump 2.0, I am finding hope in the words of Ronald Reagan as he was leaving office:

“I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind, it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind swept, God blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace - a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”

Now, more than ever, we need to build that shining city on a hill. We need leadership that is wise, caring, understanding, compassionate and with an eye for a secure future that is for all, not a limited few. Here’s hoping we can build a better future from the wreckage amassed over the past 4 years. That those who have brought such hate, division and suffering to our world through their bullying and bluster will be held to account. And that the country will elect a leader who is capable of doing the job of leading, not for some, but for all.