We struggle and suffer
Just like a million other souls
Who, for lack of connection
See themselves separate from each other’s story
And therefore feel deeply alone and dissatisfied
We escape the world
Just like a million other souls
Through television and drugs, through shopping and vacations
Through emotional retreat
So that our isolation becomes the norm
But there is another story
That belongs to a million souls already
A story of connectedness, a story of simplicity
A story of contentment and purpose
A story that allows us to dance when all else seems like pure madness
We have forgotten this story
Like the millions of souls before us
Yet somewhere in our memory these stories linger
Like a long ago dream
A feint collective memory from days gone by
It is not a story of services rendered
Or products produced
It is not a story of return on investment
Or productivity and efficiency
No, this is a story of love
Love of the craftsperson
Love of the family
Love of the neighborhood
Love of the competency of community
Love of the gifts we freely offer to one another
We will continue to struggle and suffer
Just like a million other souls
And yet, because of connection
We need not struggle alone, we need not suffer without support
We need not be dissatisfied, with a story of a life well lived
