We've been reading a series of books on character. Each of them have included several biographies as a way to explore that personality and driving motivations of different people from a range of historical eras.
What has stuck with me over the past few days is how incredibly dark so much of our history is. We still struggle with darkness. Mass shooting, addiction, domestic violence... but so much of human history is really really dark. Genocide, slavery, war. persecution and revolutions. People lived their lives and raised thier children in these dark places and periods. Many of them rose up to face the darkness with courage. Many of them died doing that.
I think of the demands on my life and the courage that is asked of me and I am shamed to think that I ever complain about the state of things. My children are safe and fed. There is a roof over our head and I don't worry that someone will come in the night to raid our home. We come and go as we please. We don't worry that someone will harm us because of our race or religion. We have access to school and books and information. Our life is comfortable. I take that for granted most days.
It is a gift. I am fortunate.
Today I feel a deep gratitude for all the ordinary blessings that overflow in life.
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