I Cry and then I Smile

I cry for a national leader whose constant fight with his constituents to maintain basic human rights and dignities for the “un” and “miss” represented are met with unconditional resistance;

I cry for a national leader who despite being vetted by the highest level and most qualified governmental bodies has to constantly prove himself a citizen of that nation;

And then I smile when I see him stand flat-footed behind a podium bearing the seal of the highest office of the nation and speak with confidence and authority to the world about who he is and his plan to move the nation forward.

I cry for a family whose grocery and gas bills make it difficult to pay the monthly mortgage, rent or car payment;

I cry for a family’s inability to maintain health coverage because their income exceeds established poverty levels for public assistance and the cost of premiums would render them unable to feed their family;

And then I smile when I realize that extended Unemployment Benefits, Healthcare Reform and Home Foreclosures continue to be a priority for the highest ranking leader of the free world.

I cry for young boys and young girls whose lack of healthy pro-social activities and resources find themselves in anti-social activities that lead to self-destructive outcomes;

I cry for a village that historically prided itself on collective work and responsibility now turns a blind eye to its responsibility for ensuring that children, teens and ‘tweens’ have safe and healthy social outlets;

And then I smile when I remember the resilience of the community and how, no matter what, it seems to find a way to recoup the basic elements of its core values and pulls itself out of seemingly hopeless situations.

I cry for the sadness that fills the air and devastates a small town at the loss of a shining star whose light is snuffed out long before he ever knew his full potential;

I cry for a young mother who is forced to say goodbye to her only son, grandparents who say goodbye to their grandson and a families who will never be the same because of dreams that will never be realized;

And then I smile at the outpouring of love shown by extended family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates, teammates – a community determined to provide the most and the best support possible at the worst possible time.

I cry for a new born baby who enters the world wide-eyed and full of life yet blind to the obstacles ahead;

And then I smile when I realize where there is life there is HOPE and that ANYTHING is possible.