Sitting on a remote New England hillside relishing the color of the season’s splendor, I am mindful of my privilege. I choose to live here, and I have the resources to live my choices.
I am grateful for all that surrounds me, beginning with the people and relationships that are most dear. At the same time, something inside nudges me toward a deeper awakening. Unlike the proverbial fish, presumably unconscious of the water it swims in, I seek greater awareness of my privilege, to what extent I “earned” it and what I owe for its exercise.
Responding to that nudge, I have taken a modest step and joined other leaders in our state in guided conversations about our privilege. Our focus is to better understand our advantages as white people and how those dynamics intersect with the realities of people of color.
The vexing dynamics of race will only amplify in the coming decades, as our country becomes a “minority” majority. There is no escaping this tide, even in a rural state like NH.
Each of us has choices in the face of difficult times. One of my morning readings provides me with grounding in the face of overwhelming challenges. May it center you as well for the choices you are making in your own life.
Empower me to be a bold participant, rather than a timid saint in waiting, in the difficult ordinariness of now; to exercise the authority of honesty, rather than to defer to power, or deceive to get it; to influence someone for justice, rather than impress anyone for gain; and, by grace, to find treasures of joy, or friendship, of peace hidden in the fields of the daily you give me to plow. – Ted Loder
sacredlead 
Thank goodness there’s “no escaping” – ’bout time more folks celebrate diversity and continue to eradicate racism. Be sure to check out the Vision for Black Lives platform. Enjoy that beautiful color metaphor that surrounds you!
Thanks for checking in with your observations, comments and reference. My hope is that when each of us honors and brings out our best selves, we will find the building blocks for the bridges across our divides.
I appreciate that you are blooming where you’re planted. For me that has been essential given my age. And yet I sometimes ask, shouldn’t I be working with more people? but that’s the thinker/evaluator so I let go! Always grateful for you in my life,
Anne
>
As always your comments inspire: bloom where we’re planted. Would that each of us could stop, take stock and set our course of intentions and actions to deliver the best within us to those whom we meet “where we’re planted.” Bob
Thanks, Bob.
I thought you were embarking on an interesting journey when you mentioned this at Summit. I can remember back in the 80’s my sister sharing with me a couple of examples of what was discussed in the diversity class she was teaching. One that I recall was that you are a young black man and you are driving in a predominantly rich, white neighborhood. You are pulled over by a police officer. What do you do?
The answer was akin to you stop and turn off the car, place your hands in plain site on the steering wheel and do not move until the police officer gets up even with you. She had many other comments to say about the situation…..
BB
I appreciate your comment, BB. In some respects as a society we have come a long way since the 80s and in others we haven’t. What is clear is that the demographic projections of the 80s are coming true and that the majority of this country will be other than “white” in the not too distant future. That is a tectonic shift from this country’s past and we are experiencing the impact as we move from the forecast to the reality. The enormity of the transition can leave us feeling overwhelmed and powerless. At the same time, each of us can only begin where we are. As a white male with many other characteristics of privilege, I choose to reflect on my own responsibility as an individual and a leader. My question to self: how can I embrace what’s coming and be a better bridge builder to that inevitable future?