Nothing causes people to refocus priorities more than tragedy. Here we are, walking through life, juggling work and family and trying to find balance – when BAM! Out of nowhere something happens that triggers a drastic shift of thinking.

I was 17 watching the Space Shuttle Challenger liftoff from my desk in high school and thinking what an amazing adventure for the astronauts and teacher Christa McAulliff. Suddenly those thoughts switched to sorrow as the Challenger disappeared into a large puff of smoke.

On Sept 11, 2001, I sat in a cafe watching first responders rushing into the twin towers – my hopeful mind naively believed those heroes would rescue everyone. Until the first tower disappeared, followed shortly by the second, crashing to the ground in a cloud dust and debris.

A little over a year ago, we had 2 major fires near us that drastically changed lives. The fires took homes, businesses, and lives.

Our utilities shut off power during high temperatures when we have low humidity – this is a change to our lives which makes us all plan for power outages like never before. Not only does power go out, but when that happens, so does our water.

There have been many other incidents, some much more personal, usually involving death or sickness, all tugging at my heart to slow my chaotic life and evaluate the path I’m on.

Of all the trails in this life, there is one that matters most. It is the trail of a true human being. ~Kicking Bird, Dances with Wolves

I live in an area where very few people in our local counties have tested positive for COVID19 – but the social and economical impact of the Stay-At-Home order is crushing a lot of people.

Times are definitely changing. Not just with the way we are responding to this virus – but in how we respond to each other when we disagree on the small issues, as well as the big ones.

Social media has given us a platform to say what we feel. People we know and love share their thoughts and feelings too. When we disagree, we say things online that we wouldn’t say face to face. We don’t discuss the details of why we believe what we do, we just get angry with each other for having those beliefs.

I’ve lost family and lifelong friends because they see me post things they don’t like. And honestly, I’ve lost great respect for people because they make offensive statements about issues that are close to my heart.

In the movie Dances With Wolves, Kicking Bird says to John Dunbar (aka DWW), “I was just thinking that of all the trails in this life there is one that matters most. It is the trail of a true human being. I think you are on this trail and it is good to see.”

So yes, tragedy and major life altering events do make us evaluate our priorities – but they also expose our character. And I have to ask myself – am I on that trail of being a true human being?

In my mind, I think Kicking Bird meant that a true human being doesn’t just look after his own interests, his own wants. A true human being doesn’t see black and white, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican. A true human being sees all humans together as one and has compassion and respect not only for those who think and feel like he does, but also for those who disagree with him, even those who would destroy him.

It’s not a destination or a goal that can be achieved. Kicking Bird called it a trail – it’s a path, a journey, an experience. It’s a constant work in progress, one that never stops, never gets fulfilled. We have to live it every day to stay on that trail.

So much easier said than done. Especially now; with so much public disagreement in this country, it’s just easier to disregard other people.

In the end, Dances With Wolves rides off on his horse, leaving the people he’d come to love, to go talk to the people he’d come to despise. I think that’s what it ultimately boils down to – we have to talk, and we have to listen.

And then maybe – just maybe – we could all get along a little better.