I’m tired of the division around me. Are you sick of it like I am? People on the right yell at the left, and the left yells at the right I’m tired. Real tired. We are so busy debating and defending that we have nearly lost our minds. I know there’s a lot at stake. Maybe the Constitution is about to fall and the world as we know it is hanging by a thread. Maybe you hate Trump or mayne you love him. But just slow down.
I’m asking you to stop and take a deep breath. Can you give me five minutes? That’s all I want.
It’s November 1969 and 540,000 United States soldiers are fighting in the jungles of Viet Nam. The fighting is intense. Young soldiers are getting blown up. As 1969 drew to a close, 11,000 soldiers had lost their lives in that foreign country. Anti-war protests were springing up and tensions were increasing. The nation was facing a crisis and had grown weary.
At this point in time, a guy named Simon wrote a song. His buddy Garfunkel sings the main part of the song and Simon joins in the chorus. Magic happens. During that emotionally charged period of our history the new song, A Bridge Over Troubled Water, started playing on the radio. People driving down the highway with their radios on heard theseopening lines:
“When you’re weary, feeling small,When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all; I’m on your side.”
In my imagination I feel their tensions ease. Those words are like a magic tonic.
Then these words come through the car speakers,
“If you need a friend I’m sailing right behind.Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind.”
In the last week, I’ve played this song, a winner of 5 Grammys, every day. It reminds me that my best work isn’t to be a pot-stirrer but a bridge builder. It’s not a cop out. But it’s the constructive way forward. I don’t know what that looks like for you but anything has got to be better than this constant battling between Americans.
What do you think? Give me 5 minutes. Remove all distractions and listen. Let it calm you. Consider playing this song for the next 30 days before you leave the house. I hope it helps each of us decide to be bridges over troubled water instead of pot-stirrers in order to help heal this broken country.
It’s a small thing but it’s a start.
Let me know how it works for you.
Leave a Reply