Lines In The Sand...

Here’s the thing about lines in the sand:  they are, by nature, temporary.  No matter how much focus is placed while drawing a line, a change in the wind or the flow of the water can easily make it disappear.

I think that rings true with more than just a simple mark in the sand, it’s true of division of any kind.  Separation goes against nature.  Division is counter to growth.  So why do we humans keep trying to make it work?  Whether we’re choosing sides based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, or any number of other arbitrary labels, how does division serve us?  How does it serve anyone?

This is not new, obviously.  Prejudice, judgment, fear, and ignorance have drawn lines between people since the beginning of time.  Fortunately, those willing to open their eyes to see, notice that it’s pretty easy to cross the lines and greet those on the other side.  This is how we’ve evolved.  It’s how we’ve learned.  It’s how we’ve grown.  But so many just keep drawing the lines and keep dividing.

I’d like to think that, in the 21^st century, this would no longer be such an issue.  With our ability to communicate so quickly, to travel so easily, and to interact with strangers outside of our own communities, we should be able leave those issues behind us.  Instead, the ability to speak so instantly seems to be revealing the fears and bigotry that never actually disappeared; they only hid behind polite facades.

It seems that so much of this separation is self-inflicted.  Standing in solidarity with a group of like minded cohorts can feel empowering.  When one is marching in protest against something, it can be easy to forget to be for something, too.  Likewise, focus on gender, faith, race, and so on can separate us more than it unites us.

Human beings – ALL human beings - are stronger together.  United in our love for one another, united in understanding, united in support, we can withstand any storm.  When you think about the wind that blows away the sand where lines are drawn, instinct is to seek protection.  The strongest blankets are woven from many strands.  As a bonus, those blankets woven from many different strands are not only stronger but more interesting, too.

Think about some of the slang we use to describe those we disagree with or those who loudly advertise their disinterest in the well-being of others.  We call them “blowhards”, “windbags”, “blusterers” and so on.  So is it any surprise that they deliver the gusts that do the most damage?

When the winds blow against me, I find that weaving together with other strands – human strands – is what keeps me safe and warm.  On the other side of the chill that the wind brings, I trust that the lines drawn will no longer be visible so humanity can continue to walk together with no concern for dividing footprints in the sand.