Overwhelmed Yet Spiritually Uplifted--It Ain't Easy

I continue holding my breath, over the last days and nights, as I remain completely overwhelmed with a persistent deep sense, and mix of compassion, sadness, dread and hopeful promise for the people of the Gulf Coast, and New Orleans in particular.

I wanted to write on local issues and ideas of concern, and talk to solutions for so many challenges facing us locally, here on our Central Coast.

As everyday, there are so many, so many to consider, not the least of which is Los Osos, and it’s current deeply divisive, persistent and painful battle -- emotionally, physically, personally and politically, to do what is right for all the people in that otherwise wonderful local neighboring Community.

But daily, so blatant and deeply personally painful and overwhelming are the sights and sounds coming across our television screens and radios, from our Gulf, that I am profoundly, genuinely, mentally, and spiritually immobilized, from commenting today on anything else.

I thought today I would say something on Labor, but the very embodiment of Labor I see, is the grateful self sacrificing Labor of so many volunteers, and our incredible spiritually and literally uplifting military personnel.

I am even surprisingly proud of many in the media, for their persistent and consistent self sacrificing respectful representation to us of the deeply moving conditions there on the ground, and their obvious passionate commitment to making it better for all the people, so unfortunately now laid out in front of them.

There are certainly no words, and have been no words for the abject destruction and justifiable disgust seen throughout these last few days from the inexplicable confusion, and lack of leadership, further exacerbating the incremental added suffering of so many people in so many communities and neighborhoods, as well as, all our friends, family, and fellow citizens left so utterly and mind boggling devastated in Katrina’s annihilating wake, throughout the entire Gulf coast region.

For many days and months to come, there will be much said about what was worse, the worst Hurricane and natural disaster in our Nation’s history, or the indefensible, vacuous absence of any apparent or effective life giving leadership in those first few and most critical days?

It is good not to forget this. Never forget. Nor point fingers and join in the blame game. As the one gratefully emergent leader, General Honore said: “Don’t Get Stuck on Stupid” .

But, please do remember … “But for the grace of God go I.” We must be sure that this man’s inhumanity to man does not happen here, on our exquisite Central Coast. That will not happen here, if we are about good planning, and security. Planning and First Responders will indeed save your life, and that of your dear families, as well as importantly your very human dignity.

There seems to me no greater priority or justifiable lesson from this vast wasteland of personal devastation, unfolding on our television screens, and so deeply and pervasively felt within our very hearts and souls.

We must assure our public safety personnel, First Responders, and ourselves, that they/we have unequivocally the fullest financial support necessary to assure the best proper planning; training; recovery, and care to the citizens we so depend upon and entrust to their care. This must happen here, so that the Gulf Fiasco, does not happen here. We must not take them, or us for granted.

Most certainly of comparable importance, and for which equally there are no words of praise or gratitude sufficient to embrace the wondrous, god gifting work of our Military in particular; volunteer organizations such as: Salvation Army; American Red Cross; Neighboring States and Cities; individual volunteers, and First and Always Responders -- our Doctors, Nurses, drivers, police, fire, all too many to itemize here.

Literally thousands of giving people doing what is right and necessary to save lives; rebuild lives and lifes; a sense of nurturing community, and human dignity again -- in one of the pre-eminent spiritual hearts, and life giving industrial and agricultural arteries of our Southern neighbors, and that of our Nation.

So, for today, it is that Labor I want to acknowledge, and hold up as our goal, as their Labors indeed represents the best of what we are about as: humans, citizens, and as the great united Nation we are, and must always be. A Nation admired, envied, and looked up to and emulated around and throughout the world.

And in a coincidently timely manner to my words here, is today’s announcement, just moments ago by Secretary Elaine Chao of $62 million dollars in Grants to provide assistance through the immediate establishment of temporary jobs, Business Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and other time honored unemployment insurance programs. Temporary jobs now to create regular income in a most irregular time, getting us through and to our well deserved dreams of tomorrow.

Jobs to rebuild personal and regional economies, so that the South like the winged Pegasus, or ancient Egyptian mythical Phoenix, as historically it has always been, shall indeed rise again, ever more beautiful, and more prepared for its promised future, and destiny, as a leader and cornerstone of our great Nation.

I leave you with these hallmarking words … Faith, Hope, Compassion and Dignity, as people return to their lives of healthful and mutually helpful living. I am, and shall remain, in awe of their faith, and their incomprehensible epic making resilience.