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114 DEGREES FARHENHEIT 

The painting  serves as a poignant reminder of how our disregard for scientific information about climate change has contributed to rising temperatures and the destruction of homes and forests. 

What a Jazz Band Taught Me About the Web of Life
This week's reflection comes from a place of both urgency and hope. 

Al Gore once said, "Political will is a renewable resource." He was speaking about our collective power in a democracy to act-especially in the face of the climate crisis. When we unite around shared values, we can transform systems. The potential is there. We just have to tap it.

This idea echoes a Unitarian Universalist principle I embraced in my youth:
 

"Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." It's a beautiful reminder that we are not isolated beings. We are part of a vast, delicate network of people, ecosystems, histories, and futures. The way we treat the planet and one another matters deeply.

Why This Matters to Me 

Interdependence:
Every action ripples. Even small ones. Dropping a tissue on the road may seem harmless, but it could contribute to pollution or spread disease. A single careless moment can reverberate in ways we don't immediately see.

Environmental Reality:
Years ago, I traveled up the Dnieper River in Ukraine and saw people fishing in a thick, algae-covered, foul-smelling current. It broke my heart. That catch might have been the only food some families had. Sadly, similar conditions exist here in the U.S., where fish runs are disappearing and clean water is no longer a given. We survive together-or not at all.

Social Justice:
As a child, I learned about immigrants who built this country-Pilgrims fleeing persecution, Irish families escaping famine, African slaves picking cotton, and Chinese laborers laying tracks across the West. Many were met with hostility, despite their contributions. Their hurt stays with me, along with the good they brought to the melting pot experiment we call the United States. We may look different, but beneath our skin we share the same blood, bones, and dreams. How we treat one another shapes who we become as a society.

Beyond Individualism:
We are social beings. I once saw a music teacher form a high school jazz band filled with prodigies. Each student was gifted, but when the group first came together, it was a chaotic scene. Only when they stopped trying to outshine each other and started listening to the conductor did they create something beautiful. Harmony overcame ego, and community became more important than self.

The principle, a respect for the interdependent web, is more than a belief. It's a way of being. 

It is a constant reminder that our fates are woven together, that no action is too small, and that we each hold a thread in the tapestry of change. It's what gives me hope, even in difficult times. If political will is renewable, then our compassion, courage, and collective strength are, too.

I’d love to hear from you:
Have you had a moment that reminded you we’re all connected?
Share your story on my Blog Site—or forward this to a friend who might need a little hope today.

Until next time,

Marilynne

The Water Factor is a Firebird International Award winner for best dystopian novel and a Literary Titan recipient for best thriller.  It is available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. It can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, locally at  Powells Books and Annie Bloom's Books, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Ask your bookstore to order a copy from Ingram. Please leave a review.

114 DEGREES FARHENHEIT CAN BE PURCHASED ON LINE ON THIS WEBSITE. Questions? Contact me at [email protected]