We've Been Here Before?

Last week a friend, who I met when my kids were still school-aged, texted our Moms group chat to say that one of our fellow moms had a breast cancer diagnosis. Within an hour, the group chat had turned into a logistics operation — who could do a grocery run, who was handling the meal train, her dog needed to be walked at noon every day. It was sorted out in short order with no question of whether we should.

That's community. And it's my theory that community is what will save us.

Mark Twain is quoted saying, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme." I buy that. I really do. One of the themes running through the ten books I've mapped out is the singularity of any moment in history. We haven't been here before, and we won't have this exact opportunity again. But the rhymes are there if you listen for them. We shouldn't ignore the lessons or the knowledge that as a species, we have a stubborn insistence on taking care of each other.

America has overcome a great deal over its relatively short history. And the through-line isn't policy or politics, it's community. We become fans of our local sporting teams, we form book clubs (with Heidi) and quilting bees, we observe days of worship with our neighbors. When someone gets a scary diagnosis, we do meal trains and check in on them. When a tornado touches down, we don't stop and ask political questions — we just show up.

We agree on more than we get credit for. And if you need proof, watch what happens the next time someone in your local area needs help. It’s beautiful.