Life in the Box: What to Do?

With the world turning upside down and all, I have been clinging to a little prayer, a small branch that keeps me from falling into the great abyss: “let me do what is mine to do, and let me release the rest.”

Some people are good at knowing what’s theirs to do; me, not so much. It takes a lot of determination to narrow down my many interests and to balance the physical logistics with a timeline. I can think like Super Woman but must live like a mother hen. So many little chicks to run after!

Peck, peck, peck. Type, type, type. “Dear Representative Young, Thank you for speaking out against putting children in cages. Please continue to fight government cruelty. This includes protecting us from cruel cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and other vital programs. A DACA “dreamer” from my town was sent “back” to central America and killed. His blood is on your hands. Don’t be cruel. Thank you.”

“Dear Senator Ernst, Thank you for speaking out against the President’s devastating trade war. Many Iowans will be hurt financially by his actions. Please continue to speak out against not only fiscal insanity but also cruelty. There are many kinds of cruelty you can defend us from…”

“Dear Senator Grassley, Thank you for your work on the Judiciary Committee. As you know, this President is the most corrupt President in American history. Please stop you intentional disruption of the Mueller investigation, and continue the real work of fighting corruption in the administration. Thank you.”

“Dear Senator Grassley, Thank you for supporting legislation to keep families together at the border. Please continue to work with Democrats to pass sane legislation fast!”

And so on. I make a few phone calls, too, but writing is one of my “things to do,” so I’ll keep pecking away, attending some protests, giving some money to organizations like American Friends and ACLU, praying like crazy. Voting of course. Crying and crying about the babies in prison and the children and parents separated by cruelty. Despite the fact that I want to go to the border and save them all, I have to remember: do what’s mine to do, do what’s mine to do. Peck, peck, peck.

Nancy Heather Brown is a retired, Emmy Award-winning television producer whose career has included interviewing, writing, narrating and editing for a span of four decades. Today, she enjoys learning new things and reflecting upon the creative process and life issues, both inside and outside the box. Her opinions are her own, and are not necessarily those of this web site. 

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 RAICES provides low-cost legal defense at the Texas border