It's Up In The Air

I remember the captain of an airplane once coming on the intercom and saying… “please fasten your seat belts… we are experiencing some turbulence and it will get a little bumpy for the next few minutes…”   Talk about head winds and more… that certainly was an eventful day to say the least for me.  But in light of several recent  events, protests, scandals, congressional delays, state rights, civil rights, women rights, gun rights, Supreme Court decisions, global warming and natural disasters… this flight is far from over.  

There are a lot of head winds today, even on clear and sunny days.  If I see this right, our nation is now entering into uncharted social, political and scientific waters that have many people wondering what is going to happen to the greatest nation of modern times.  This is more than just change, for change sake…it is change most us have never experienced before and many are having a difficult time coming to grip with the perceived outcomes. 

There seems to be more “blurring” along the social lines of what is fair, humane, just and in maintaining a good society.  The situation gets even more complicated when you factor in personal agendas, conservatives, liberals, the far right, far left, moderates, centrist, Tea party and let’s not forgets about those progressives.  The issue is even more troubling when you consider that so much of what we were taught or have come to believe in is being altered.  It is enough to keep your head spending, a hand on your wallet or purse and an eye on the calendar for the next upcoming election.       

It seems that we need to put together a survival kit that includes a life preserver, motion sickness pills, oxygen, first aid kit, parachute, a good book, voting card, food and some prayer.  I know that it is hard to compare the upcoming changes in our society with those from the past, but I am sure that our parents and ancestors had to endure some difficult situations, tough decisions, sacrifices, and personal loses.  Let’s not forget Slavery, WWI, WWII, the Depression, Vietnam, March on Washington, voting rights and the Cold War, to just name a few.  The future is always difficult to predict for it is full of clouds, head winds, rain and sunshine… but like all planes that go up, they too must come down and land.  So, get your ticket early, the next flight is leaving soon… but make sure your seat belt is tight… this ride is going to be something.