Over the last week or so, Santa Fe has saddened me. Supply hoarders have limited supplies of items that everyone needs. There’s already enough fear in the world right now, why on Earth would anyone want to add anger to the mix? But how can we refrain from becoming angry when people take more than they need? Is there really any way to stem the fear?
To be perfectly honest, I have no clue. I’m as scared and angry as anybody else. What’s kept me going as the news worsens is my fundamental belief in a benevolent human spirit. I believe, very much, that humanity’s core is good and rooted in love. Even as we fight over stupid things like toilet paper, I think that the intention behind the hoarding is love for self and family. I don’t think anyone is consciously out to hurt anyone; I just think we aren’t thinking about the community at large.
Right now, however, I don’t think we have the luxury of sitting in silos attempting blindness at everyone else around us. If we can’t start caring for one another, the government will force us to remember that we are part of a greater community and I think we are seeing just how much the government can do awaken us to the control that it can enforce. If we can’t remember that we are all connected, local, state, and federal governments will force us out of our blindness.
Still, I have to believe that the goodness in all of us will prevail. If we can get past the panic, we can then start to see that we have to find a new rhythm through which we can take care of our families while at the same time, taking care of the greater community of which we are all a part. There is no easy way out of this situation. We have to face it together and find hope.
If we don’t, then so be it. Things will get worse. But I believe in humanity. And I trust that our local, state, and federal officials are doing the best that they can to find solutions. If we listen and act on the guidelines and orders, we can change the accelerating infection rate. I believe we will. But I am left with a nagging question that only time will answer: Is Santa Fe’s hope greater than its fear?
