This Bitter Earth

Oliver and I stood at the back door last night and looked up into the sky. Terrific winds have been raging all across California the last couple of days, and our backyard is littered with palm fronds and tree debris. The stars, though, shone brightly, despite our urban setting, and we both exclaimed how many there were and how bright. Maybe the wind has blown out the darkness and allowed the stars to shine through! I said.

No, Mom! Oliver said. Haven't you heard? Pollution is getting less and less here in Los Angeles and the stars are coming back! I heard it in the news!

I must have looked dubious, but Oliver insisted and said, again, We're getting more aware, Mom, of the planet! It's good!

And I felt so hopeful in that moment, that we have these young, bright minds, these stars, actually, still here, hoping and confident.

I later stumbled across this video on the On Being website, and thought it was perfect to end this post. That's the voice of the Dalai Lama and, later, Dinah Washington, singing This Bitter Earth. May both Oliver's hope and the short film bring YOU hope today!