There is a spirit in Alaska, less prevalent today, where our first reaction is to look out for one another. Perhaps it is the spirit of the land itself or the practical reality of the environment in which we choose to live, but it is there. It may be as simple as stopping by the side of the road to assist the occupants of a vehicle in distress, or helping out at the Thanksgiving Blessing.
However it finds its way into your life, this identification with, and desire for the good of the other is a fundamental aspect of Solidarity. Solidarity finds its roots in the fact that we are all created by God and redeemed by Christ. As such, we are connected to one another at a fundamental level. Solidarity does not allow one to dismiss another as insignificant or unworthy of attention or respect. Like the spokes of a wheel, with Christ at the center, the closer we get to Christ, the closer we get to one another.
As the unseemly drama of the national and local elections grinds on to its nebulous conclusion, there may be a temptation demonize those who may not share your affiliation or point of view. We must be careful of this and take practical steps to change the acrimonious atmosphere created by recent political discourse. May I suggest that we each start in our own backyard. If you have not already done so, now is a good time to reach out to those in your neighborhood. With the onset of the cold and the dark, not to mention the isolation imposed by the pandemic, it’s an especially good time to change the atmosphere by random acts of kindness and reckless beauty. Be a positive agent of change and dialogue on your street. Our town needs this right now.
To learn more about Solidarity in Catholic Social teaching, please watch this short three-minute video.
Then go to:
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/solidarity
We are all in this together. Let us work with those around us to create an atmosphere of solidarity and positive change.
– Fr. Leo