STARS

March 10, 2002

The World Trade Centers.

Wow.

Such an experience.

We will be digesting that one forever.

When it happened, wow. We all just looked at each other. Wow.

Savor that memory.

Remember?

In the horror of it all, wasn't there incredible sweetness?

We all looked at each other.

Really saw each other for a while.

You know why?

It's because the event was so huge, so all-encompassing, it became the bigger part of who we all were.

But slowly, all the day-to-day that distinguishes us, filtered back in.

The Event became smaller and smaller. We placed it over there, next to but behind the plans for the kid's upcoming birthday party.

In New York City, The Event, I'm sure, is still more alive than in other places of the country. I have no idea what flavor it is in other parts of the world.

Even in New York City, it's very different depending on how close you are, or your ties are, to the location. If you live or work close by, I'm sure, The Event still plays center stage.

What about those who lost someone?

Wow.

They can't, and maybe never will be able to hear anything else in this lifetime.

It has touched them too deeply.

It's going to take a long, long time.

So I'm thinking about those people - and I'm thinking about all this stuff I'm writing about on this web site.

What about those people?

Not just those people.

What about all the people who are suffering through situations that are, at times, seemingly too much to bear?

There is so much suffering going on, at any time, in any given neighborhood.

I was thinking about how the Nazis would make the Jews wear Stars.

I was thinking we ought to restore that.

Claim the same for the positive side.

What if all the people who are suffering through a bit more than they thought they might be able to bear just now, what if they all had the option to wear some sort of Star to convey to the public that this was the case?

It would be a free pass for anyone who might be interested to make an approach. Take them out to lunch. Have coffee with them over at their house. Find out what the deal was. See if there is anything that you can do, that you might really enjoy and want to do, to help this person out.

The Stars wouldn't be seen as a pity thing.

More of a hero thing.

People who get dealt such difficult cards are indeed heroes.

They are thinking about, dealing with, situations that are far beyond our comprehension.

Yet they move on, one foot in front of the other, day after day.

Think about what that must be like.

Do better than that.

Get to know one of them.

Become a part of their world.