for many of us life can feel overwhelming right now. there is an urge for some of us to just move on, or to pretend reality is something different than what data, lived experience, and facts tell us.

please rest as needed and then come back to the table.

#COVID19 is real and continues to rise in half the states, even while politicians and businesses push to reopen at the cost of human life. we are still in first wave, second wave in fall, and China has brand new clusters of outbreaks this week. openings should be done responsibly. we should be wearing a mask and social distancing responsibly.

#BlackLivesMatter still needs to be a primary focus. even with the spotlight on law enforcement culture, new videos emerge of racism, abuse of power, and death. the systemic and cultural changes needed take longer than a week or two – a lot longer, in fact – ongoing. we can’t lose this momentum, there’s too much at stake.

all of this, while having a would be dictator President who at every turn undermines the dignity and value of life – in humans, animals, and environment, while glorifying division, aggression, and violence.

we are finding that perhaps more than ever in our lives, that we are indelibly interconnected and our attention is needed. please please pay attention. life needs our attention.

life is calling for our attention.

life is calling us to bear witness.

life is calling us to care.

~j

#TheLongArc #PlantingSeeds #SitDownRiseUp #NoJusticeNoPeace #EngagedBuddhism #JMWart #JinpaLhaga