1 December 2008
Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us.
— Martin Luther King
Since the children who lived at our house have long been out of school, I have not been around kindergartners in a while.
But there are two little girls who live down the street from us who were headed off to kindergarten this year. And because the little girls and their folks are friends of ours we were privy to some of their uneasiness associated with going off to school for the first time.
These are bright and talented little girls who are going to do just fine in school. And most days as the summer was winding down, they were excited about the notion of going to school.
We heard full reports on the day they went to buy school uniforms. Then we heard about the day they went to buy school supplies. I was a little envious of those stories, for I love looking at paper and pens. ( I could use some new crayons myself, come to think of it. )
But we also heard some of the anxiety.
Once, at a park outing we shared with the two families, we heard this plaintive little moan : ‘But I can’t go to school yet, I am only five.’ After a couple of years of waiting to turn five so she would finally get to go to school, it occurred to her she might be able to get out of going to school by claiming she was too young.
Another time, it was reported to us that one of the little girls had moaned through apprehensive tears, ‘But I cannot read.’ Her mother assured her someone at the school would help her with that.
I wanted to sit down next to them both and say this was all going to be okay. I wanted to tell them to just worry about the simple stuff : Wear your uniform. Tie your shoes. Take your books. Sit down and be quiet when you are supposed to. Raise your hand before you talk in class. Be nice to the other kids. You will get the hang of this. You will be fine.
Advent is upon us. Which means the Prophet just reminded us that the One Who made us is about to do something new among us again. It means Christmas is coming soon and not long after that a new year is coming too, a new year in which a new person moves into the old house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. All of which is to be anticipated with no small amount of hope and joy and wonder and delight.
But there is some worry out there as well. The holidays often have all manner of financial and familial pressures that go with them, and the air of crisis that has been hanging over us all as a people for some time has yet to clear. There is some uneasiness and worry and fear and uncertainty for us as well during these next few week and months, maybe years even.
So I say to myself a couple of times a day : Take care of the simple stuff. Talk softly. Be patient. Do your work with all the art and courage you can muster up. Be quiet some. Put your arm around folks. Do not panic. Say your prayers. Be nice to the people you live with. Take a deep breath.
You will get the hang of this again. You will be fine.
Namaste' — and be in touch.
R. Benson
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