I got word today that my oldest sister and my dad, who have been estranged from each other for years now, over issues I shall not dignify here, talked on the phone for 15 minutes. I'm not going to claim this ranks with forging a lasting peace in the Middle East, but putting aside whatever you have known, or *thought* you have known about another person, even for 15 minutes, is a start. Nor will I claim that I was instrumental in either one of them thinking to do so, except to say that perhaps boldness and courage are as contagious as anything else. In myself, I recognize that me being here, doing what I do, endeavoring to change my life, was a huge and terrifying step for me, a genuine leap of faith. And if I can do it, so goes the logic, at least in my family maybe, anybody can. But I'm still no hero; I got past the point where I got up in front of the class and my heart was pounding, hell, I managed to get off the damn plane in Inchon, if we're counting, and, no, it wasn't easy. I make no claims to have rectified the problems or situations of others. But I will say this; if my boldness encourages others to strive for peace and wholeness in their lives, then I'm all for it, no matter how it comes about. I was also thinking the other day how good it is to do things like teach a good song to your children. I think the one I would choose myself would be Satchmo's "What a Wonderful World." I can't recall the whole thing, but I know it starts:
I see skies of blue,
Clouds of white,
The bright blessed days,
The dogs say goodnight,
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.......
Or something like that. Anyway, go find Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" and teach it to a child, be it yours, your grandchild, your neice, nephew, whatever. I just think it would be glorious to have such a song being sung universally, hanging like a shining canopy of hope over us all. Be well, all.