We are living in a time of uncertainty. I am sure this phrase has been said countless times during the ages. I know it would have been said in the 5th century when the Roman empire fell. I know it was said when the first settlers arrived here in the New World. I know it was probably said when Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined together to form Canada. People said it in the midst of the World Wars and during the Depression. People are saying it now as we realize that things such as residential schools and western european assimilation policies that were practised long ago, harmed many people. We need to find a new way of living in partnership with our aboriginal brothers and sisters. We are also living in an era where we have only just begun to see the effects of climate change. We know we must make better choices to protect our environment. Yet we are not sure how to give up our present way of life or whether we want to make those changes.
All of these things show that we are caught in the middle. We are living in the grays. We are creatures who live in a system. We know that the system is both good and bad. The system protects some. They system causes injury to others. Yet all of us have gotten used to living life in a certain way.
Changes to the system cause us angst. How will the change effect me? What will I have to give up? How do I ensure that I don't replace some mistakes of the past with even greater mistakes in the future? Change is a constant in life. It is always happening. Sometimes it is most needed. Still, change causes us angst. It causes us to reflect on how we have benefitted from past actions at the expense of others. It causes us to consider what we consider important. It causes us to reflect on our character- are my creature comforts more important than the well being of others. It causes us to reflect on our society- how could we do better so that everyone lives better? This living in the gray is never easy. However, it is what we do, each and every day. Blessings.
