Heroes in the Dark

“What is this moment asking of you?”

I heard this question the other day and it reminded me of an article I wrote a few years ago when many people in the US suddenly found themselves being pessimistic about the future after the election. 

Fast forward a few years, and it would seem that collectively, and regrettably, much hasn’t changed, and some things are far worse. Like many of you, I long for a time with no pandemic, mass loss of life, loss of livelihood, and loss of certainty. In particular, I long for a day when people of color are treated with dignity and respect. A day when we genuinely see and treat one another as equals. This day will be preceded not by everyone losing their unconscious bias, but by becoming aware of it, and deliberately engaging with it to become better more civilized human beings.

Five years ago, to many people, life seemed more ordinary. I am also reminded that when days are ordinary, people largely behave ordinarily. These past few months, we have all gone from hearing about an outbreak in some far off city to seeing our neighbors lose their jobs, our parents fear for their lives, and now the reminder that racism in the US is far from being stamped out, and is costing people their lives. Save for the pandemic, the realities for people of color haven’t changed, and the privilege of being white comes with general ignorance about the injustices committed against others.

As we move forward, those of us with privilege cannot ignore the realities of others, and none of us can ignore the global pandemic that threatens us all. Indeed, the times are extraordinary and many of us are struggling to find meaning, direction, and purpose in the chaos. Yet, it is under such conditions that you might more easily find these things.

On an ordinary night, if you find yourself in the city, looking up at the stars, you might only notice a few that stand out. But, if you venture to a place with no light pollution, far from the city, you will see that the sky is actually full of stars. You might see the Milky Way, shooting stars, planets, and all manner of astronomic splendor in the night sky. The only difference is the context you find yourself in.

Today, every member of our species is sitting under the same pitch-black night sky, seemingly without much hope and with no end in sight to the devastation of people’s lives due to the pandemic, recession, racial violence, human rights violations and bloodshed between governments and their own people. This then is a time for each of us to shine, to be compassionate and replete with charity and kindness. Previous generations have known times of war, famine, and near-total economic collapse, and it was the spirit of compassion and mutual assistance that inspired people to take meaningful action to persevere.

Look not to leaders who call for violence, hopelessness, or despair. Rather, pay attention to those who are helping, and calling for change in a methodical, deliberate manner. The heroes of yesterday, like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, found a moment to shine under some of the most trying conditions. They weren’t born as such, but simply answered the question, “What is this moment asking of me?”

Now is the time for each of us to put away our ordinary identities, and don a cape. Now is the time to choose the legacy you will create for the future. Each of us has an opportunity to claim this moment as a time to help our neighbors be they next door, or 2,000 miles away. Each of us can ask ourselves, “What is this moment asking of me?” and choose to be a hero to someone.

Your journey might well begin with you. Let it begin with humility and courage in exploring your own unconscious bias and privilege, be it in the context of race, or your ability to navigate the fallout from the pandemic. As with the instructions printed on the back of the safety card on airplanes, first put on your own oxygen mask before you can assist others with theirs. Now is your time to answer the question:

What is this moment asking of you?