I was born in 1948 into a wonderful family and into a world that was already a mess, one that was soon to become even more so. Yes, the horrors of WWII had ended but left in the wake were weapons beyond imagining. And in the background of my 75 years have been many more wars, genocides, and the death of tens of millions of children due to hunger and preventable disease. It is estimated that just today upward to 40,000 people died of hunger, including more than 10,000 children. Today and again tomorrow and so on and so forth beyond imaging. The major cause is not a shortage of food but rather inequality and abuse of power (money). Together 1% of the people on the Planet have more wealth than the other 99% combined.
What’s “joy” got to do with this dismal situation? Joy and this dismal situation coexist! Everyday, even in horrible places where horrible things are happening the two can be found side by side. It may well be I’d have to use a magnifying glass to see the joy, but chances are good some of it would just shine through all the horror. Am I being just head-in-the-sand? I suggest I am not.
Humans have immense joy within and the non-human world literally bursts with joyfulness every day. Take a look if you don’t believe me. And then make sure you do what you can to not only see joy but share it.
And, of course, VOTE in November so we might avoid that Road to Nowhere. Please also share this blog and note that folks can sign up here to see all I post. Thank you.
Still Learning To See 
Such a refreshing post to start this new day. Let’s do our part to avoid the Road to Nowhere but it’s good to know that we can find Joy no matter where the future deposits us. Thank you for sharing your view.
While I did not write about it, that Road to Nowhere led to a beautiful, wild tundra, a place I made what are still some of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever made of rocks, lichen, plants. The road ahead is certainly looking better than a week ago.
John, I just want to take a moment to tell you how much I appreciate your recent commentaries. They are so well written and so much from your heart that they give me hope. Thank you. Elaine (David and Cindy’s friend)
Thank you. Keeping hope alive is a community job and glad we are in it together.