Ted Kennedy: A tribute to our potential

Ted Kennedy is widely regarded as a man of great gifts, talents, intelligence and charm, whose life was marked by trauma and whose character was marred by flaws. Is this not us?

Ted Kennedy was imperfect; yet he did so much and ultimately found redemption and peace. So are we imperfect, and yet we can do so much to help one another and ultimately to take ourselves back from the negativity that sometimes overcomes us.

Yes, we have addictions and self-destructive behaviors; yes we misuse our resources and squander our potential. Yes we have played the fool individually and collectively. But we can redeem ourselves with the support of our own inner strength, our friends, our communities and our god - whether that god be called Allah, The Source or The Great Spirit.

Tuesday evening for no apparent reason, I felt gripped by a wrenching emotional pain. Then a vision of a highway came to me and I started singing that great American classic song, “This Land is My Land.” Suddenly I knew I was to write a new version of the lyrics, and crying and praying, this song came to me. Finally I felt peace... Read more