As I awakened this morning and oozed into my day with a cup of coffee, I was feeling grateful for the chance to quietly make my way into what I planned on being a day of rest and rejuvenation.
As I do most mornings, I checked the news to see if there was anything of note happening. And of course, the leading story was about the situation unfolding in Charlottesville, VA. I began looking for any information I could find, feeling a sense of disbelief and helplessness as well as an urge to be of some help to someone, somehow.
Although I ultimately turned away from the news to be in my day, I found myself with a heavy heart many times. Each time I noticed it, I closed my eyes, breathed deeply and invited healing in. Healing for the families of the people killed. Healing for the injured. Healing for the community of Charlottesville.
I hold that nonviolence, inclusive dialogue and justice for all people are the basic components necessary to find something we can align with one another on. While I may not be in Virginia right now, I can practice these principles in my life, knowing that by doing so, I am counteracting violence, hatred and inequality one moment at a time.