Today’s thought comes from Danise Habun, a dear friend and community activist. She understands the power of connections and community in building the beloved community. Here are her words: 

Connections are spiderwebs between people, places, ideas, activities, stages of life, love and loss. Connections are the bonds between us, sometimes strong, other times brittle and easily broken. Connections are the bonds that exist between humanity, our planet, our communities, our relationships with family and with our pets. 

I am fortunate to be connected to so many others in so many ways. Recently I rediscovered connections while working on a photo project with my niece in celebration of my sister’s 70th birthday. By looking through so many pictures, I had the luxury of being able to pause and reflect on different familial connections at different stages of my life. I was able to recall the warmth of my sister, and I snuggled on the laps of our mother and grandmother. The memory brought tears. I also examined pictures from my college years with my sister and future brother-in-law and I was able to pause and laugh at all of the things that we did in those years that remain hidden from others. But we know because of our connection. 

I am connected now to a community of cancer comrades who continue with chemotherapy and treatment. With this community, I am able to share my feelings and outrage at the indignity of this disease and our medical system. This is a connection that I wish I didn’t have. 

If I am connected to you, there is less likelihood that I will deliberately cause harm to you. If I am connected to a community, I will do my utmost to defend that community. If I am connected through love, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, protected and cared for to the best of my ability. If I am connected through a cause, I will advocate and speak out until someone listens and does something. 

     Danise Habun