~rainbow mondays~ the rainbow connection

i’ve been thinking about how we can move towards finding connections, instead of focusing on differences. i see the image above and i think idealistically about how the united states would be so cool if we lived up to our image as a place where all are welcome. (i do not know the source of this artwork, and hope the artist does not mind it being shared!)

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

~emma lazarus (the quote associated with the statue of liberty on ellis island, the entry point to our country for my ancestors, all of whom came from europe.)

some would say, “but it’s not that simple. we have to think about national security.”

others would argue, “yes, it really is that simple” to be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud. i thoroughly enjoyed reading about the refugees the pope personally rescued from syria here and here. i also love this rainbow-rific image (unknown source) of pope francis, whom i have come to admire for his practical, no-nonsense way of practicing what he preaches. it’s one thing to claim you have no problem with someone of a different religion; it’s another thing to wash that person’s feet.

speaking of rainbow-rific, this is the current boss of our hummingbird feeders, and i think he likes having his picture taken! and clearly, he has found the rainbow connection.

red: i am finally overcoming the inertia of winter and making some real progress on wedding planning! i feel some flat bride posts coming on… because there is some good comedy in taking your own measurements for a wedding dress, let me tell you!

red: a friday lunch for my ten year old young man!

orange: brightly colored driftwood on my lunch break beach run today.

yellow: the daffodils are coming!

green: a new bayou vista opened up by my trail blazing fiance.

blue: blue hair braided with black hair. they found a rainbow connection. (image from reuters)

so i’m puzzling on this, but i think that trying to find a rainbow connection means not defaulting to the scripted polar divisions and not becoming reactive on topics regardless of whether the topic is pokemon go, colin caepernick, the election, or standing rock. this neural groove of either/or is well lubricated, so it’s going to take strong intentions and follow through to avoid slipping into it. what if i could be with each of those topics, without taking a side? without having to justify an opinion?

instead, what if we used a new language? what if we stepped off the continuum of us/them, right/wrong altogether and asked in what ways do we already agree? in what ways can we move forward towards the common goals we have? can we acknowledge how our fears are clouding our solution-finding?

what if we stop seeing causes as mutually exclusive, stop assuming scarcity, and work to achieve both/and? can we both fund the national endowment for the arts, and maintain our military? can we care both for refugees and our homeless veterans? can we help young women and help unborn babies?

i’m pretty sure we can!

blue: sunnier days ahead! welcome signs of spring are all around.

purple: primrose surprises in the front yard!

as i keep seeking the rainbow connection, i keep looking for the silver lining, looking for the ways in which people are being the rainbow, even in the face of some very dark clouds…

like the judge who assigned teens to read books as the consequence for hate vandalism (refer to the article for the reading list! well worth it!) oh, and a visit to the holocaust museum.

like the subway riders who worked together with hand sanitizer and tissues to clean swastikas off the walls of the subway car.

like the community of american muslims who raised funds and provided assistance in the restoration of 150 headstones in a jewish cemetary damaged by vandalism.

like the bystander to the hate-motivated shooting of south asian men in kansas who put himself in harm’s way to help.

i think they, too, have found the rainbow connection.

“what’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see? someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me!”

~rainbow mondays~

a splash of color on monday

a photo study documenting the colors of the spectrum: the balance points between light reflected and light absorbed

3 comments to ~rainbow mondays~ the rainbow connection

  • Camp Boss

    Love the pretty hummer!! Soooooo ready for spring/summer flowers!!

    Is it realistic to say there is NO right and wrong in our world? Is it possible to say women should be supported through all stages of life no matter their choices, but also say killing innocent children is wrong? Is it possible to have freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion; while also saying that ALL speech is good, worthy,and valuable? Is it possible for the needs of every individual person to met? Is it the responsibility of the government to meet all the needs of the people? Is total and complete equality in ALL aspects for ALL people possible and a worth while endeavor? Is it possible to find solutions, make change, move forward if there is no stance of “taking a side”? Do common goals mean common outcomes or solutions are the only acceptable answer?

    To all of this NO!!!!. No it is not possible, We live in a real world, a world that isn’t so simple . A world of happiness, simplicity, diversity and equality for ALL people is only possible in fiction books and movies. Why??.. because there is right and there is wrong, they do exist. By definition diversity means different,so diversity of thought, religion, beliefs,and actions makes a simple solution impossible.

    Is labeling things you don’t like as hate this or phobia that helping to bring unity and peace? Is being easily offended that someone doesn’t agree with you and call that person names (not saying that you would or are doing this),a good way of finding solutions? Is using violence an acceptable solution to difficult life problems? We can agree those things are not helping or working towards common goals.
    So what can we do?
    What we can and should do is treat each other in a kind way. We CAN/should Be courteous,thoughtful, helpful, generous, considerate. We can/should talk openly, honestly, with passion and compassion with ALL people and view points. We can/should defend and maintain the individual, moral,and religious freedom, liberty and rights afforded by the constitution for all citizens of our great nation. We can dream, wish, and pray that things will be better.

    I love the Pope too. His preaching and practice on family, marriage, the sanctity of life, and the Holy Church, are definitely worth admiring.

    “When angels visit earth, the messengers of God’s decree, they come as lightening, wind: Before the Throne they all are living fire.” Emma Lazarus

  • Lau

    “can we care both for refugees and our homeless veterans? can we help young women and help unborn babies?
    i’m pretty sure we can!”
    Yes, Please!

  • i love what your doing with rainbow mondays 🙂
    jenny recently posted..recovering

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