My Bubby would remind me to
look for the good;
the blessings in a situation
and then know I am going to be ok.
it is easier to do this
when it is a personal issue,
then when it is a social justice issue.
I can see the good when
it means I avoided being hurt
or killed in an accident,
or in a hostile situation.
It is harder for me to see the good
when people are killed because
of their race,
their ethnicity,
their sexuality,
their religion,
or something which
triggers hate in others.
I hate when hate kills.
it saddens me beyond description.
Then I look at how people
are standing up,
speaking out,
coming together as allies
and I begin to see the good.
I see the good
when we talk openly about
systemic inequality,
about abuses of power,
about injustices.
I see the good
when people use their privilege and power
to bring about change,
to learn about how
we are part of the problem
and how we can also be
part of the solution.
It is in the midst of this ugliness,
that I see the good
and know that the Ultimate
sees a goodness that
surpasses my ability.
I remember how my Bubby
taught me to see the beauty
and the good
in what to me looked
like a hot mess.
So I grieve for the pain
and the suffering
but I also say
I see the good
even when it is hard
for me to see it.