Common Ground #1
Scattered leaves on a trail’s edge. As I ran by this scene the other day, I was thinking about the common ground that unites us as people. I was thinking about those who paved the way for you and I to live in this advanced society, with many comforts and conveniences.
And I was feeling discouraged by the pervasive sense of disconnection and wide divisions that seem to ignore the much wider path of common ground. In so many ways, so many of us want the same things in life— family, friends, health, a place to call home, a sense of security, meaningful work, time for fun and relaxation.
Those little leaves blowing in a stiff breeze remind us there are things to leave behind and things to more fully embrace.
I have the tremendous blessing of friends in recovery. We help each other not only stay physically sober, but also to regain our mental and emotional sobriety and to enlarge our spiritual lives. We don’t recover alone, and we depend on power beyond human. Because we are dealing with a baffling and powerful disease, we have to keep our focus on recovery.
We don’t talk politics or climate change or argue about the best sports teams. Not when we are together to help save each other from self-destruction. There is plenty I don’t know about my recovery friends and don’t need to know. Our common ground and shared priority unite us. We are able to thrive, individually and collectively, when we stay on this mutual quest.
This experience is also a tremendous blessing to me because I am being shown that humans can bring out the best in each other, even when a disease has brought out the worst in each of us.
We are in a time of dis-ease in our nation, our world, our communities and maybe even our own homes. I go back and look at the scattered leaves in the picture above. I pause and breathe in, breathe out. I feel my feet on the ground, steady and stable.
Those little leaves blowing in a stiff breeze remind us there are things to leave behind and things to more fully embrace.
Leave behind the full-on fears, hurtful and hateful divisions, lack of forgiveness, the greed and materialism, the power plays.
Embrace that which can help bring us forward, individually and collectively. Humility. Tolerance. Kindness. Faith. Understanding. Forgiveness. Working side by side. Open minds and loving hearts.
Like these leaves, carried along by the breeze, there is plenty beyond my individual control. Just for today, I will focus on what is in my control—my words and actions. I will use them to build common ground. Onward!
