Gratitude for the Least Among Us

First of all, I’m really grateful that this election is over.

Second thing is, after commiserating with a disheartened friend whose husband voted for McCain, let me say I’m really, really grateful that mine voted for Obama.  Perish the thought of having to fight about that seriously pesky issue in between wiseass comments about stray socks and dirty coffee cups in the kitchen sink.

Thirdly, and I swear this is the last thing I’ll say about this election, I’m extra grateful for no longer having to send diplomatic emails to undecided friends and relatives about why Obama was the better, more reasonable choice.  Diplomacy didn’t work; I still got called a “hater” for calling Sarah Palin dumb.

I lied.  There’s one final political thing I have to declare gratitude for: the end of the George W. Bush era, which did its best to coax out our meaner, uglier and most divisive devils—as opposed to our better angels.  I cackled with glee at his verbal gaffes, just about drowned in righteousness as my every disastrous-Bush-policy-prediction came true, and constantly recoiled in horror and fear at the endless F#@& You!’s thrown in the face of our precious constitutional rights.  During which time, I failed to remember that I am my enemy, and that we are all one.  Yes, me and George, we’re the same thing—human beings—as reptilian as he seems to be.  See?  There I go again.  I’m so glad he’s going back to Crawford.

As our current financial predicament so clearly illustrates, even though people think this “we’re all one” business is so much New Age blather, my neighbor’s problem is my problem.  That guy with the interest-only mortgage who just lost his home?  Yep.  His misfortune is now the world’s misfortune.  Spiritual truths can be so annoying.  I’m usually into them, though.  It’s just that this giant truth was very hard to remember while I was mocking George Bush’s traits, which live somewhere inside me, too.  There’s a saying that goes, “What you judge, you will someday become.”  Brrrr.  Shiver.  Help! Mr. Snake is slinking away into the night, so I don’t have to judge him anymore.  And for that, this wannabe enlightened gecko is so grateful.

Be Sociable, Share!

•