The Policy of Caring

The recently reported occurrences of gang rape of the Richmond High School student in California and within the past month the beating death of Derrion Albert should give us a reason to stop and deeply contemplate some serious issues. Putting perhaps a bigger exclamation point on behavior which is tragic, a group of United State Senators voted against Senator Al Franken's Anti-Rape Amendment. We have to at some point not only ask the question or what's wrong with people, but how do we resolve issues of violence that have been with us for thousands of years.

When people say we need more police, more jails, more this and more that, I'm feeling like that's a band-aid on something that is awaiting surgery. We need to go to the root causes and begin apply solutions broadly rather than in narrow swim lanes. I hear people every single day say, "I want to be rich," "I want to be famous," "I want to be popular." What I don't conspicuously hear is people sincerely talking about wanting to be better people. We have to be honest and admit that we are a very sick society. We have maintained this illness, because we have only been applying quick fixes and knee-jerk solutions that on the surface seem "right," yet upon deeper investigation are like a strainer incapable of holding water.

If we really, really, really, really, really wanted, we could do better, as a society. We could if we wanted re-evaluate, re-value and change the things that we prize and hold dear to us. We could make a commitment to internal and external policies and values which enhance everyone. In it's most primitive or basic form, it would simply be "The Policy of Caring."

A personal policy of caring is about, not withholding our heart. It's about being a good steward of our life and deeply knowing that we really are our brother and sisters keeper. It's not about standing on the sidelines, merely empathizing with how terrible an incident is. It's engaging and doing something about it.

There are times when I'm lost in the weeds of my day-to-day life. I'm not being attentive. I'm not being aware. But then there's just a momentary flash that says, "This moment could be different for me, if I wanted it to be. I need to take care of myself and make it back to the present moment, if I want to be authentic, taking the necessary steps to unify This moment." And when I connect and act with that frame of mind, the weeds disappear.

We have a choice, with what we do with our life. Are we content to be on the sidelines, waiting for this life to be over or will we use it fully and as my teacher says, exhaust It? Many, many, many, many thousands of people are in need of help. If we can help or comfort just one, that's a beginning. That's perfect. That's grace. The decision is up to you and can only be made by you. For me, I will choose the policy of caring.

With Deep Bow,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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