Week 3 was all about embracing the both/and – the good and the bad, the easy and the hard, the sun and the clouds. Prompts invited readers to find the bright spots in their lives while still acknowledging the shadows. The idea for this lesson came from being in an airplane and *surprise* looking at the clouds as I do and realizing that at some point in the climb to 30,000 feet, we’d eventually hit sunshine.

Some days it was only this reminder that stood between me and utter despair. Stories, videos, images, and news from around the world paint a picture of greed, hatred, bigotry, arrogance, and fear. Some days it feels like that’s all there is and goodness has gone to ground. But my mom likes to tell me that there’s hope. That we must have hope if we are to continue working for a future that looks different, better than today. So I hold onto the sun and share it’s warmth with you.

Here’s my favorite poem from Week 3:

look for the helpers

“Look for the helpers,” Mr Rogers said,

when the world was scary

and hope all but dead

“Look for the helpers,”

i say in my head

“Look for the angels,”

my heart says instead.

i look for the angels,

those helpers divine,

who know what you mean

when you say that you’re “fine”

everyday angels,

the ones who wave back,

who remind you there’s love

in the face of attack

the listening angel

who picks up the phone,

or answers a text

when you’re feeling alone

or the angel of courage,

who can hype you up fast,

and polish you’re confidence

so that it lasts

my favorite of course

is the angel of food,

cuz that nourishment hits

when i’m in a mood

and last but not least,

is the one we call ‘guide’

who will light up the path

so you don’t have to hide

These are the helpers

Mr. Rogers knew best,

and if you start looking

they’ll rise from the rest.