I look at my last post about a supposedly "lousy" dance performance and have to say that I now agree with something a colleague, long in the world of the arts, told me: don't look at a video or pictures of a performance immediately after. He is right. I look now at the photos and even saw a video: I was fine, and looked fine, including my hair. I don't know why I dip into this self-hatred: well, I DO know why, but those challenges are not something I want to discuss.
I want to talk about the upcoming election, and align it with a worship service I went to yesterday. When I can, I try to attend a nondenominational congregation with an absolutely wonderful minister, a woman whose sermons invariably soothe my spirit. I still love the Zen center I have attended for years, but this other group nourishes my soul also.
Our minister's sermon yesterday included that, no matter what happens in the election tomorrow, our work for social justice and for the good of each other and the planet, is never done. The Republican nominee has given permission for many to express what is already there: hatred of other races and religions, violence, cruelty, ignorance: but honestly, there are people on the "other side" who express other views, and the same, just as much. She said to get off the idea that we are superior to others, that they are "bad people" and we are not. We are still one planet, one nation. If we hate others, no work can really be done to heal division.
And there is much, much work to be done, always.
I have to say
