The radiant gift of goodness

Holiday decorations in downtown Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Life has a way of reminding us there’s a greater power than us in the world. Even a simple thing, like the morning sun illuminating a snowy field, shows us a radiant, expansive beauty we couldn’t create on our own, but can always experience. It’s part of a goodness, a peace, that is often closer to us than we know. It’s innate to us, and we live in the midst of it. 

So often we feel that pull to rush into the holidays, swept up in a world that appears long on strife, but short on hope. But this time of year, we have the opportunity to reflect a bit more on the good we know, and what might come from it. Indeed, there is always a great deal of goodness and love being shared – the key is to keep our eyes more open to these qualities, and know we have them to freely give to others.

There was a heart-warming example recently, of 13 strangers stranded after a canceled flight in Orlando, Florida. Instead of despairing, they opted to rent a van and make the trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, together. As the CNN feature reported, they formed “an impromptu community”, and the results were moving. An aspiring college student, who thought she may miss the chance to visit her dream school in Knoxville, was able to do so. 

"I feel like this situation for me specifically kind of restored my trust and humanity a little bit," one passenger told CNN. "There's definitely hope for people — people, they can be good."

Also, here in the Upper Valley, another story touched our hearts. Following the many outages from last weekend’s storm, a Canadian line worker, who was far from home, went to the Wal-Mart in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, to pick up some things. When he was about to pay, he realized that they did not take Apple Pay and needed to go back to his truck to get his wallet. Well, he got back to the register to find that the people in line after him had paid for all his items, showing gratitude for his work in the field. 

We can take something meaningful from these stories: that spark of good is always at the ready, wherever our journey takes us. It’s there to touch our lives and remind us how innately good we are. Anything that would turn us inward, is very much like the cloud hiding the sun. The light can’t be stopped from being light; there’s something about our very being that looks out from self, and is ready to help others.

Whatever the situation, we are empowered to rise above any challenges and be a light for hope – even through a simple act of kindness. The more we focus on reflecting goodness and love in our lives, the more we’ll see them in action all around us, too. On days when those qualities seem in short supply, we can pause and know they are still around, still being expressed — and sometimes, they are just around the corner, waiting for us to embrace them. That’s the true spirit of the holidays. It never stops giving. Good is continuous, and it really is the best gift of all.

— Gareth Henderson

Sharing gratitude, being love

The Kedron Brook in South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When days of cloudy skies turn to light, we experience one of nature’s most awe-inspiring moments — and Saturday morning was such a time. I was quietly reading at my desk and looked up to see beautiful light shining into the room, illuminating part of it. Another few minutes, and the light shifted slightly, spreading further into the room as it took up more of the window. 

It struck me that good works much in the same way. Like the sunlight, it shines into our lives, and though there are days where it seems not to reach every corner of our experience, it is still active, still lending warmth, still breathing life into hope. This beautiful sense of good marches on, even through the toughest times. 

This time of year, gratitude is a point of emphasis, and is always a strong force for good in the world. Thanksgiving gives us a much-needed nudge to slow down our thought and take a moment to acknowledge the most important things. It provides an instant connection to how love is being expressed. For example, food shelves and other nonprofits are continuing to help those most in need, individuals and organizations step up to help their neighbors, and the smallest acts of kindness still go a long, long way. That’s because the light of goodness shining brightly in our hearts is a natural state of being for us, and it’s what we feel when gratitude is expressed. Take the example of Debra Ferrell of Virginia, who founded a nonprofit based on small acts of kindness. 

“It is a kindness organization where our motto is, ‘Be love. Do stuff,’” Ferrell recently told the media. 

Being love. Those two words are hugely important in today’s world, one where, so often, love seems to be very much overshadowed, or even under siege. But every time that issue comes into view, the perspective we bring to the table makes a difference, and it’s something we can consider, something we have the right to change. Even through challenges, the opportunity to be love — to do good, show gratitude to others — reveals life-changing actions we can take right now in our communities. In this world, nothing is more needed, and nothing can stand in the way of good that’s ready to make a difference.

— Gareth Henderson

The armor of courage and love

The sun rises over the mountains in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

This past weekend, a priest at a Catholic church in Ukraine told his congregation, their faith is their armor. Even after Russia began bombing the country, congregations still continued to meet in Ukraine, bolstered by faith and courage. 

“The enemy is attacking us, but we are with God, and if we are with God, who can be against us?” the priest resolutely stated, quoted on the PBS NewsHour Monday evening. The church’s choir sang out a battle hymn for Ukraine, reflecting the country’s resolve, even as it faces the first major land war in Europe in over 70 years. 

Amid war and violence, are signs that faith, courage, and dedication to one’s country are fueling many efforts to repel this invasion. Early on Monday, a line of vehicles 20 miles long on the road into Poland grows; some locals have brought food to those waiting in the seemingly endless line. All the while, the Ukrainian forces fight on, as Russian aggression continues. 

Amid war and violence, are signs that faith, courage, and dedication to one’s country are fueling many efforts to repel this invasion, and help those in need. Early on Monday, a line of vehicles 20 miles long on the road into Poland grew; some locals have brought food to those waiting in the seemingly endless line of families fleeing the conflict. All the while, the Ukrainian forces fight on, as Russian aggression continues.

After watching the news coverage in recent days, an understandable question is, Can the world repel such an invasion? More to the heart of it, Can peace and stability win? 

Over the past two years, the world has seen strong, encouraging reflections of support, love, and collective strength, where they’ve been most needed. The example of a congregation standing up, resolute, for the higher goal of faith and love, is a reminder how the human spirit can shine its brightest amid adversity. And it shows why the answer is “yes”, to the two questions posed above. 

Indeed, this represents a far stronger history than that of violence. As seen in times past, churches, organizations and other groups join together to rally around their communities and offer support in the toughest times. Today, at this moment people from around the world are praying and holding vigils in support of love. One of the greatest resources is the constant amount of prayers being offered to Ukraine worldwide, every day. This has happened amid all other challenges the world has faced, and this support has its foundation in love — a quality we all know, a power we’ve all felt.

This love, this resolve, grows and multiplies; it never diminishes. It is greater and more powerful than any bomb or military force, and it’s a force for good that won’t be turned back. This love offers protection when material resources cannot meet the present need. Love’s armor remains, as the light that still shines in darkness. Wherever we live, we have a role in sustaining that armor, by the love and support we maintain in our hearts for Ukraine. And we can know that the hearts of those who need to feel that love, will feel it, and be nurtured by it, because it knows no borders, no limits. 

The best part of history will repeat itself. Love has seen the world through its darkest hours, and it will do so again.

— Gareth Henderson

Tending the garden

The sun breaks through the clouds in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

On Monday, I was at the hardware store in town, gathering supplies for a home improvement project. I noticed racks of seed packets, pots and soil. Wide-brimmed woven sun hats and new fashionable gardening gloves were waiting for their new gardening homes. My wife is a collector of both. Gardening has been on our minds over the last few days, as we had a taste of spring weather tucked in between snow squalls, blustery wind and cold temperatures. 

We wondered, what should we plant? Last year we planted a little too much squash, but it benefited our neighbors and the local food bank. This year, the promise of rows of carrots, lettuce, red cabbage and fresh tomatoes brings promise of a plentiful harvest, nourishing our soul and body. Long ago, I always rolled my eyes when my wife wanted yet another pair of gardening gloves or a sunhat, but now they are more than material things; they are hope, gratitude and love. They are part of expecting and knowing that the path to a bountiful harvest is right here in front of us. Indeed, we know seeds will germinate and fill the garden with vegetables. 

That also shows how the ideas of growth and nourishment are so much bigger than any material object. The family time and creativity that come along with tending the garden are the real harvest. This garden is a complete idea from its very inception, made of those strong virtues that bring it to life. Reflecting those qualities of love and gratitude, we become better gardeners of our own lives. We take better care of the soil, which represents the various elements of our collective experiences. We’re aware of what seeds we buy and plant — what we allow to prosper in consciousness. That’s the kind of cultivation that leads us down good paths, and it helps us plant seeds that encourage growth and progress.

— Gareth Henderson

Love is still the answer

A snow-topped tree overlooks the water along the Ottauquechee River Trail in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

This week, for the first time, the presidential inauguration will be guarded by 25,000 troops in the nation's capital, with National Guard soldiers there from all 50 states. Also, government buildings are heavily guarded throughout the nation.

That's the current security posture following the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, of Vermont, gave a first-hand account of what it's like in Washington D.C. right now, during a phone-in Town Hall with Vermonters on Tuesday.

"If you were in the area, you couldn't get within eight or 10 blocks of the Capitol, the Mall, the Lincoln Memorial or the White House," Welch said. He was sad it had to be that way, because Jan. 20 is supposed to be a day of "public and civic celebration," the congressman said.

But the good news is that the inauguration will go forward, Welch said Tuesday.

"That's going to happen tomorrow, and we're going to get Joe Biden working on COVID and on some economic relief," he said.

On Tuesday night, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hosted a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor victims of COVID-19, as the nation passed a total of 400,000 deaths from the virus. It was a powerful image of national mourning, and also an acknowledgement of the tumult of the past year, which has impacted the entire country.

Looking at the image of the 400 lights around the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was sobering, but also incredibly inspiring. It was a national moment, at a time in our history where we haven’t had many invitations to jointly reflect as a nation, together. Such a moment is beautifully normal, and something we must do, especially after such a challenging time when we need each other.

Tonight, the country is poised to enter a new time of leadership. It begins with much work to do as a nation. Whatever your political view is, it's clear this will be a time of change during an especially difficult part of our history. But instead of retreating to the comfort of tired political arguments, or sinking into fear, we should look forward more simply: Just start this new chapter with love. That is this country's most powerful protector, which will also serve to strengthen the fabric of our society and unveil new ways we can bridge our differences and work together.

We've felt the sharp edge of political division. Now, we have a great mountain to climb, and many hard steps line the path forward. But only one thing leads up to a better future by fostering genuine collaboration for the greater good. Love breaks patterns of distrust and leavens thought, leaving room for compassion to encourage more constructive, more understanding connections. That is the solution to guide the moment. Love has been the answer before, and still is.

— Gareth Henderson

Staying in the room

Sunset illuminates the clouds as seen from Woodstock’s East End on Monday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

It can be tempting to avoid uncomfortable, challenging circumstances, but some of the most important moments in life require the opposite reaction, especially when the stakes are high.

Such was the case when the Problem Solvers Caucus met online the night after the U.S. Capitol riot, to better understand each other’s reactions to the events of Jan. 6 and lay some groundwork for future progress. Amid tension and high emotions, they "stayed in the room", as U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) put it during a recent discussion with fellow caucus co-chair U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), led by the Cornell Institute of Politics and Global Affairs. 

To hear that phrase from someone working at the heart of the leadership of our democracy, during such times, was deeply impactful. That’s because we don’t often hear about people “staying in the room.” From the halls of Congress, to family gatherings, we’ve often heard about people leaving political discussions, or not wanting to have them at all. But the fact is, constructive dialogue is critical to building the kind of progress our nation needs. 

To achieve that, we have to do that work from a sense of empathy - a key part of that three-hour Jan. 7 meeting the Problem Solvers held. Empathy is a building block for progress, even in the most tense of circumstances. It naturally creates a sense of genuine caring, which leads to the most important aspect of doing meaningful work with those who disagree with us: love. Starting with an empathetic approach encourages others to remain in the discussion. For that reason, we must strive to reflect the innate lovingkindness we each have within ourselves. Just as people can sense hate or dislike, they can sense love as well. Simply put, that approach — in Congress and in our own communities — is how we reverse this pattern of political vitriol in our country. 

As civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. powerfully said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” King had seen, first-hand, the impact of both kinds of thought. Through his work, he knew which approach was more powerful.

In times of strife and fear, love is sometimes cast as one of the weaker solutions to daunting problems. But that’s a false notion, and one that would hamper progress. The fact is, love is a close cousin of courage. Courage is what it takes to peacefully reach out to someone the world would call an enemy, show empathy, and work with them in a genuine, compassionate way. 

This is not to say building these bridges is anything close to easy. Months of difficult discussions, hard work, successes and frustrations led to the latest COVID-19 relief bill spearheaded by the Problem Solvers Caucus. There will be roadblocks that call for tough negotiations and creative solutions. But if we are to be creative — and this time certainly calls for that — we must empower this work through compassion and love. We must remain in the struggle, and not be afraid of discussing differences. Because of the vital nature of this work, we must persist alongside our brothers and sisters. We must stay in the room.

— Gareth Henderson

The value of slowing down

A hillside winter scene off Cloudland Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A newsroom colleague of mine used to have these words taped across the top of his computer monitor: “Slow down”. In my mind, I can still see those big, bold letters, and I understand why they were so important. They were a reminder of something that’s healthy to do, but isn’t always part of an endless cycle of deadlines. You slow down to not only give more thought to what you’re doing, but also to let life’s other components, like family, bless and enrich your experience. 

The lovely non-routine of Christmas Day and the following weekend made me think of this concept a bit more, with the holidays being the ultimate time to slow life down a little. No need to speed up the routine on that weekend at all. Everything has its place, but it happens when it happens. It was a great time to re-engage with the outdoors and get some exercise in, as well. My wife and I got the cross-country skis out at night on Christmas Eve, which was wonderful, and we also got a couple of walks in — including tonight, with the returning chill in the air. I think snowshoeing is also on the list for this week, along with a forecast for more snow, which we love to hear.

The last few days reminded me that slowing the daily routine down helps us refocus on the most important things in our lives. That’s certainly one of the lessons of 2020, to open up to newer, fresher ways to look at life and its blessings. We may have found that the things which bless us the most have been right here with us all along. We just need to slow down and pay attention to what really fulfills us and gives us joy in life.

Those slower moments can be some of the best teachers, and they have a way of letting our better attributes into the picture more often, such as love, compassion and humility. They are our guides in the gloom, and they can show us better paths. If we keep allowing those moments into our experiences, we keep growing, and in many instances we learn what we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. Such opportunities show us the grander lessons of life, and learning those with love and humility is what we’re built to do.

— Gareth Henderson

One small step of kindness

The sun glows through the clouds in Woodstock, Vermont, on Thursday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Indeed, 2020 has been a year of moving forward with new steps, often unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable steps, as we navigate today's landscape. However, that new landscape has also made goodness stand out a bit more, giving us a new awareness of smaller things that used to get little more than a passing thought.

Now, we all know a smile, a kind greeting or a simple offer of help can go a long way. They each provide much-needed comfort, some extra nourishment for the soul, which is especially important during these holidays when large, festive gatherings with loved ones are greatly missed. We can continue to show love and kindness to others even in the smallest ways, and when we do, we shine light into our own lives as well. Also, people are ready to show kindness, and ready to help. Everyone has spent too much time away from other humans this year, so it's that much easier for everyone to relate to each other and see the need for a kind moment or two.

I experienced that concept on Saturday, and I was reminded that people are beautifully helpful, and sincerely so. After dropping off our daughter to ski at Pico Mountain in Killington, my wife and I drove down Route 4 into nearby Rutland to run errands. Several times at a local shop, we found ourselves in the same section as another customer, who cheerfully helped us find what we needed each time. I know the staff was grateful, since there were only a couple of employees on the floor during that shift. So, this woman’s kindness helped in a couple different ways. Later, we enjoyed a friendly chat by the check-out line. All told, the whole experience lasted a few minutes. But it got me thinking about small ways we can lift up each other’s day. The truth is, it doesn’t take much; just a couple moments of consideration, and some grace.

There's no better time to cherish kindness than during the holiday season, because that loving spirit is alive within each of us, and so very ready to be shared. Taking a quick minute to lovingly reach out to someone is well worth it, because the impact goes way beyond ourselves. It uplifts everyone involved, and ushers in a happiness that benefits us all. No gift has greater value than that.

— Gareth Henderson

The election we control

A stone wall near the Woodstock-Pomfret town line on River Road. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Well before this momentous week got started, the choices for president in 2020 were very clear, and political leanings well established. But those aren't the only choices we get today.

In fact, we'll have choices every moment leading up to when the polls close, and long, long after Tuesday night. Each moment, we have an opportunity to elect how we will approach the times we're in, and reject what distracts us from those values. Whatever noise we may be hearing from the political realm, we can choose to walk the steady path of caring for our fellow humans, and encouraging others to do so.

Through social media, we've all seen hate compel people to display words, images or video footage meant to tear someone else down. That's become a tired habit, one we're all too familiar with. Starting right now, we can jointly make the choice to go against that popular grain, and build each other up. If we each embrace being an influence for good, that can provide an avenue for people to work together on important issues and cultivate the progress this country needs.

With that approach comes another very important benefit: an emphasis on progress, not on our differences. Many times this year, our differences have been used to divide us, and this stokes fear and distracts good people from working together. If we make the effort to find common ground, we can turn the tide and move forward in a more productive direction.

In the next 24 hours, we'll surely be tempted to give in to that all-too-familiar swell of emotions, in this challenging political atmosphere. But we have the power and fortitude to reject that negativity, embrace the good within us, and consider how we can be a part of positive change, whether that occurs locally or on a larger scale. Above all, the most important election is how we choose to travel those precious moments before us. Let's all decide today, that a loving approach is more important and more powerful than any other path. Staying on that path is not weakness, but the greatest strength — one we can readily share with everyone.

— Gareth Henderson

Facing our challenges together

Late-afternoon sunlight breaks through onto Fletcher Schoolhouse Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When faced with difficult times, Vermonters rise to the challenge and support each other. That's certainly been a strong theme this year during the pandemic, here in New England and elsewhere.

Today, I wanted to highlight a wonderful example of this a bit farther away from home, in the small town of Berry Creek, California. There, a father and his young daughter provided temporary housing for volunteer firefighters who lost their homes to wildfires last month. Actually, Woody Faircloth and his daughter, Luna, have been fulfilling that need since 2018, when they founded a nonprofit that supplies donated RVs for emergency housing, in response to the devastating Camp Fire.

One of the most touching parts of this recent CNN story is no doubt captured in this line: "Even with their own homes gone, the (firefighters) pushed on, evacuating neighbors and battling back the blaze."

Nothing captures the American spirit of love, courage and helping your neighbor, like a story about these firefighters and the people who helped them at their time of need. Today, with the country going through so many challenges, this account is a much-needed reminder of our natural dedication to helping one another. It shows that love and compassion still win out, even in the toughest of times.

— Gareth Henderson

The good we have

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

So many people are searching for proof of goodness in the world today, amid multiple reports of the exact opposite. It's a relief to know that this goodness is not out of reach, but is natural to us. 

Along with that goodness comes hope, the harbingers of which are compassion, empathy and decency. Just to see those qualities expressed these days makes many people hopeful for the future, even as we struggle to see that light at the end of a seemingly very dark tunnel. Just a moment of hope can have a positive impact, and we can sustain that feeling by treating others with the love and kindness that lifts us up. 

This week saw some troubling milestones in the pandemic, with the U.S. seeing its highest number of coronavirus cases in one day since the crisis began. This information came amid a news cycle that constantly reflects the polarization in American society today — a pattern only exacerbated by the upcoming election. But the only way to move forward while these factors abound, is to find the strength to work toward unity with one another. It is to compassionately cooperate for the greater good, not to sustain old silos of thinking. With that approach, not only will we make progress, but we'll also appreciate each other more as individuals — which is so very needed these days. 

As we work to find unity through compassion and empathy, our natural inclination toward helping one another will, in and of itself, be that proof of goodness so many long see. Such qualities don’t disappear. They are within each of us — every moment — to bring out the greatest in all of us. Going forward, let's work every day to claim and embrace the good we have. If we seek that goodness and employ it, there will be more unity, because more people will want to see it flourish. Together, we’ll start to make a difference in the world, right where we are.

— Gareth Henderson

Lewis to young Americans: Let power of love guide you

It's the easiest thing in the world, to revert to old routines that feel comfortable and familiar. But now the world demands we do better. It demands unconditional love and courage, allowing us to truly see each other with the heart and take bold action for unity and justice. 

The importance of such action rang out vehemently, as numerous speakers honored the life of civil rights leader, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, in recent days. His story speaks so strongly, of the need to protect democracy and stand up for civil rights, with love and humility as the foundation of that work. 

On Thursday, former President Barack Obama — the nation's first African American president — delivered the eulogy at Lewis's funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Obama spoke of Lewis' younger days, as the son of sharecroppers in Troy, Alabama, and how significant those roots are.

"What a revolutionary notion, this idea that any of us ordinary people, a young kid from Troy, can stand up to the powers and principalities and say, 'No, this isn't right, this isn't true, this isn't just — we can do better.'"

Obama noted Lewis's unceasing perseverance, even when surrounded by the violence and hate directed at him and other activists. At age 21, Lewis was one of the original Freedom Riders, and at age 25, he led 600 marchers across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where they were beaten by police. That was one of three Selma-to-Montgomery marches, which highlighted racial injustice and led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. 

"He as much as anyone in our history brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals," Obama said of Lewis.

During this entire week, no stronger was the importance of action expressed, than in Lewis's own words. He wrote an op-ed days before his July 17 passing, and it was published on Thursday in the New York Times. 

In his final writing, Lewis described how inspired he was to see millions, from all different walks of life, unite in protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. 

"You filled me with hope about the next chapter of the great American story when you used your power to make a difference in our society."  

He urged people to continue that movement, remembering the philosophy of nonviolence taught by civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something," Lewis said. "Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself."

It's incumbent upon all of us to remember that democracy is indeed an act, and it's calling upon us all, right now. We're asked to examine old routines of thought, ask whether they are just, and find ways to better understand each other. With that, we lay the foundation for greater justice and peace. We make "opponents" into friends.

As we move forward together, no one path toward change will look the same. Small steps lead to larger action, and greater change. 

In his op-ed, Rep. John Lewis spoke to the new generation of protesters that gave him and numerous others so much hope:

"When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide." 

— Gareth Henderson

Goodness still strong, not defeated

The great weight of all that has happened in the U.S. since the pandemic first intensified in March is undeniable, and often overwhelming.

Also undeniable, is the kindness, love and compassion that have together been our rudder through these stormy waves. Indeed, our better attributes have been tough to recognize amid the divisions in the country that seem to deepen each time we turn on the news. This turns me back to a question many asked weeks ago about the acts of kindness that multiplied among neighbors: Will that love last? Will that sense of unity make a long-term difference, leading to more loving, more profound ways of relating to each other?

With so much struggle and political strife, the answer “no” might be plain for many. But I believe there is sufficient momentum for the good, and enough need for progress, that the best in each of us can hold sway over the future. There remains hope for the “yes” column, in spite of the stark difficulties we face as a people. That innate goodness still lives among us.

The fact is, we each have a decision with each step we take. We can choose the direction of progress, starting with learning and understanding more about how we got to this place, and what we can do in our own lives to better society. Every step forward, is a step closer to change, though the steps may feel small at first.

We all have an opportunity to be part of the solutions that move the nation forward. History has urged us to build something stronger together, to seek a new dawn. The lasting hope I feel tells me we will seize the opportunity to be better, though the road is long with obstacles. We’re strong enough, courageous enough to travel it.

— Gareth Henderson

Love is the always answer

Outrage, anger, frustration — those are the raw feelings pervading the U.S. today. As I view the scenes of protests on the news, I’m struck by how much love the nation needs right now. Then, I remind myself that we already have that love, in abundance. 

The past two months have brought countless acts of love and compassion throughout the U.S., as people stepped up to keep family, friends and neighbors safe through the ongoing pandemic. Now, that outpouring is needed more than ever as the country responds to the tragic impacts of racism. Many times in recent weeks, that love has shone through moments of increased understanding of others, with most people having a bit more time to learn and connect. Perhaps that will help lay the groundwork for larger solutions that are needed. 

In this life, sometimes problems come our way because we are ready to solve them. The U.S. could be facing such a moment now. We don’t know what the solution looks like or whether official institutions will change, but we know what won’t work. Today at his daily press briefing, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo quoted Maya Angelou’s words: “Hate has caused a lot of problems in the world, but it has not solved one yet.” 

That perfectly makes the case for using love to make progress. We all have more similarities than differences, and going forward, it will be so important to use the good that unites us to take steps forward, together. Loving our neighbor is the key to solving any divides, including racial. And we can start doing so right here, right now. 

— Gareth Henderson