October 10
There was something remarkable about the clouds hovering in the skies yesterday. They were so varied in size and shapes that I couldn’t help remarking over and over “look at the clouds” to whoever would listen. The day was perfectly sunny and yet there were so many marvelous cloud formations in the distance. It would have been a perfect day for cloud watching if I wasn’t so busy dodging traffic as I made my way around Boston. The whole afternoon made me want to brush up on my cloud formation knowledge. Is that a cirrus or a cumulus? And then a large grey cloud began to come into view. It felt large and threatening as it hung over the highway of weary travelers, and I understood that the weather can change on a dime. Sure enough, the raindrops began to fall in big plunks on the windshield, but the sunlight on the horizon promised that it would be just a passing shower. It would be over soon and the sun would return and that got me to thinking about that other set of storm clouds approaching Florida. The people there would be looking at the clouds in such a different light with feelings of anticipation and dread over yet another cycle of wind and rain and storm surge.
Hurricane season is one to be feared. We know that if we are spared the effects this year, we might not be so lucky next. Our cold waters in New England help to protect us, but our history tells us it is just a matter of time. So, we cross our fingers and we pray that we are able to weather the storms that come our way.
All of this reminds me of a different kind of storm that is brewing. It’s not one that will hit one particular area or another. This is a storm that will affect all of us. It will set upon us on November 5th and my feeling is that it will not be just a passing shower. Its effects will be long reaching. It can make one feel powerless over the many divisions taking place when all we really want is a country that we can be proud to live in. A place where love and compassion are the rules of the day. A place where we help each other to become the best versions of ourselves. My words today are this: reach into your heart and make the decision that is best for you and perhaps most importantly, what is best for the children that will follow us for they will have to live on with the legacy that we leave for them.
