This morning I was listening to my iPod as I unloaded the groceries from the car. Worried about the news of the day. Kind of scary. Friends of mine, a long time out of work. Don't know what's going to pull us out of this. Frightened and feeling tired even though it's not even noon. Still, the groceries gotta get unloaded.
And then "American Prayer" comes on the playlist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi4rUzf-0Q(Go watch it now if you haven't seen it yet.)
I only listened to that song about a million times in the run up to the 2008 election. And every time it gave me wings. And I thought about what it was like on the night Barack Obama got elected. How I felt I could fly. Because together we could make a new day. Together we would change the world.
And right in the middle of unloading groceries I sat down on the kitchen floor with my head in my hands and I cried.
Because despite everything.
I STILL BELIEVE.
I still believe that we as human beings can make the world a better place.
I believe we should try.
I believe that mostly the world IS a better place than it was.
Despite our fears.
Despite our anxieties.
Despite how dark it seems.
Despite how scared and frightened we all are.
Despite how worn down we feel.
I believe a better day is coming.
I believe in the better angels of our nature.
I believe a brighter day will dawn for all of us.
I am still here.
I believe in hope.