Waiting
Image by Tu-2
The day began clear, and the sun was on its way. Cold. The temperature is 45 degrees fahrenheit. The sun would make one think it is warmer, but no. Today is Saturday.
The news this morning is about disasters waiting to happen. There are, of course, many disastrous events taking place right now. But the news in today's reports are clearly telling of worse things to come – and we are waiting.
Some are engaged in actions that are intended to stop the meltdown, but the efforts may not have the desired effect. It's a bit overwhelming to make oneself look at the images, the words, the analyses - but it is imperative that we stay connected to what is being done right now. Again, enter awareness, but do not absorb. This will help maintain space for self-care and self-compassion.
This image was created by Tu-2 after the meltdown at Chernobyl. It was in April 1986 when the design and operator error gave way to a disastrous nuclear poisoning of the people and the planet. The image shows workers leaving the plant after clean up efforts, as depicted on the front page of the New York Times. Already, the collapse that is a part of today's poly-crisis was showing in 1986. The image of the small boy sitting on top of a sleeping giant is us – waiting. What are we waiting for?
Maybe we are hoping, praying, meditating on the possibility that a future that is worth entering will emerge. For a while, it seemed the nation was moving in a direction that would open possibilities and the potential for positive change in society so that the stated aspirations of the country could be realized.
We have since seen that the opening was too scary for some. The anticipated embrace was not to be had. Instead, a push back and reaction that created a clear message: pick a side, don't give in to the "other" side, win at any cost because if you lose - you will be a forever loser. That cannot happen, so pick a side and do everything you can to make sure that your side is a winner. No one wants to be a loser.
This is our problem: the winner/loser false choice. This is our deficiency: there are no moments to reflect, to digest what past events have shown, to take our self interest and set it aside for a minute and learn something about patience. We need to know how to be patient with one another - to allow for adjustments, to express understanding that change is hard for many, to demonstrate why maximizing our personal profit/gain is not going to leave you feeling good, but always anxious.
The small boy sitting on top of the sleeping giant expresses hope. He is asking the viewer to see what has happened, to understand that he holds hope for a future that will not include disasters like the ones that seem to keep happening.