Growing up my Dad always told me that we make our own economy. He watered our souls with phrases like, you can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do. He prepared our spirit with life truths like, you get what you pay for and hard work always pays off. For the most part, my Dad was spot on. His words of wisdom have served his family well.
But today we are in a different and strange season- nothing makes sense and everything seems to be jumbled up. Right, wrong, respect, courtesy, and the things I was raised with seem to be standing on the sidelines of some Twilight Zone reel- wondering what in the hell happened.
I’ve always been a glass half full (OK glass overflowing :)) thinker and as a leader I’ve always worked to redirect focus to what we can do to handle any set of circumstances. So this weekend, as I wrestled with fires, unrest, and an unrecognizable reality- I felt the tears well up and I wished for the millionth time that I could call my Dad. Get his viewpoint, hear that laugh and wait for the words that would somehow make sense of what is happening in the world.
There won’t be a phone call- no laughter and no words to feed this aching soul.
I want my Country back. The RED, WHITE and BLUE- the Proud American place, the peaceful debate place, the world where right and wrong were more easily recognized, respect and courtesy were more apparent and where my Dad’s words always made sense:
“We make our own economy.”
“You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do.”
“You get what you pay for and hard work always pays off.”
My tears will dry and I’ll go back to focusing on what I can control - but just for this moment I want to feel the loss, the emptiness, and the pain our current circumstances warrant - perhaps if we all spend a few moments realizing what we are losing and what we are missing - the strong will rise, dry their tears and help guide us back to the America that we used to share with pride.
