Fourteen years ago, our grandson was born. My wife took our daughter for her last prenatal visit (she was going to be induced later that week). Our son-in-law was at home with their two-year-old because it was nap time, and this was just supposed to be a routine visit. Mother and daughter decided to have lunch prior to the office visit. During lunch our daughter mentioned that she had had a couple of contractions earlier in the morning, but it was nothing to get excited about. During lunch her contractions started coming again. This time, it was the real deal. They left the restaurant and headed to her appointment. While traveling, our daughter had a few more contractions and couldn’t talk while she was having one. Her contractions started coming every four minutes. She started to feel panicky. She was in active labor, had not packed for the hospital, and her husband was home with their daughter. It was not supposed to happen this way! So, she asked her mother, “What are we going to do?” My wife’s calm response: “Don’t worry, I have a plan.”

She had no plan.

What she had was a calm, steady, and determined response. It would all be ‘okay’, even though my wife had no idea what to expect next. Things moved pretty rapidly, and a routine doctor’s visit evolved into a hurried trip to the hospital. I was dispatched to collect our granddaughter. Our son-in-law raced to the hospital. A few hours later a beautiful baby boy was born. All is well that ends well. And that baby boy has become a young man who blesses my life with each encounter.

This has been a tumultuous week. My preferred presidential candidate lost. My fears about the next four years have kept me awake at night. I’m afraid of the risk of losing our democracy. I’m confused as to why there is so much hate in our country. The moral and political divisions in our country today appear insurmountable. So many Americans are victims of xenophobia, racism, sexism, antisemitism, and homophobia. My prayers for peace and love of my fellow humans are feeble. Hope seems lost.

I have no plan.

Except I keep thinking about the wisdom of the beautiful woman who has chosen to share this life with me. I lean heavily on her words. “Don’t worry, I have a plan.” Her calm, steady, and determined response to the unknown has given me a glimmer of hope. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m not sure if I can make any real change in this world. But I will remain calm, steady and determined in my approach.

There might be dark days ahead. There will likely be major disappointments. Rather than being disgusted with half of the voters in our country, I will be respectful. I will work for justice where I can. I will remain committed to the causes that I hold dear. I will love. I will hope.

And on those rainy days, I will pray…

Peace,

Denis