Hello Friends,

     On Sunday we reflected on the “footprints” left by the living Christ in our lives, and the paths we can pursue to live out God’s loving will. 

      One person whose footprints have been attracting considerable attention is Al Gore.   In the most recent Time cover article, “The Last Temptation of Gore,” the author explores the attractiveness to many of a prospect that Gore might change his mind about the political process, and decide to throw his hat into the ring for another shot at the presidency.

     Gore says he can’t imagine doing so, having so understandably “fallen out of love with the political process,” and he describes his attitude toward returning in wary terms, as a self-described “recovering politician”:
“You always have to worry about a relapse.”

       At the present time he’s working powerfully and effectively from the grass roots to the highest echelons of power, raising consciousness and advocating action on the environment, for the good of all the world’s people.

      Even more importantly, he has just completed a training of more than one thousand volunteers, who are going to take the Oscar-winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” to many thousands more around the country.

      Already, Gore’s work has led to his friend Steve Jobs’ institution of recycling and clean manufacturing operating rules at Apple.   And as a direct result of seeing the film, producer Kevin Wall has persuaded Gore to preside over “Live Earth,” a televised global rock festival, consisting of nine concerts on seven continents in a single day.   The event is designed to get two billion people engaged in thinking about the crisis  all at once.   All profits of Gore’s efforts go to support the Alliance for Climate Protection, his nonprofit advocacy group, and he has already let members of Congress and presidential candidates know he will be running ads in their districts next year—holding them accountable to come “clean” on their real principles, and genuine intentions to act in the best interests of their constituents.

      Regardless of your politics, and regardless of Gore’s ultimate choices in the political arena, I hope you’ll agree that he sets a marvelous example of translating crushing disappointment into creative, courageous, compassionate action.

        He wants us all to leave smaller carbon footprints, so he’s leaving healthy idea and action footprints for others to follow, and his followers are leaving more, and so it goes….until maybe all those running for or hoping to stay in office will be on board, because the people will it so.   Gore’s ideal for the coming election season is “a path (he’s trying to chart) that builds consensus—to the point where it doesn’t matter who’s running.”

       Can this work?   Can we really turn this scary trend of planetary destruction around?   Gore thinks we can, especially if we enlist teenagers and young adults, our brain and conscience trust for the immediate future.  

           One thing is sure.  None of us can be unaware, anymore, thanks to Al Gore’s ongoing, apparently tireless commitment to this issue, and to spreading the word as far and fast as possible.

         I want to believe all of us have the power to live true to the call of Holy Wisdom.    I look forward to being on the path with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.

Shalom,  

Sarah