Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of

the spirit of connection S 151
these challenges. But it has been given to us to lay the foundation
for a durable and just global civilization, to secure the gift of life
and pass it on undiminished to unnumbered generations. No previous
generation could have said that, and none ever had greater
work to do.
Can true gratitude transform our prospects? Can we harmonize
the rhythms of this frail little craft of civilization with the
pulse of the universe? I believe so, but gratitude cannot be legislated
or forced. It will remain a stranger to any mind that lacks
compassion. It must be demonstrated, but above all it must be
practiced daily. Our generation and no other has been given this
Great Work, and for that we can be grateful and humbled. In that
work, our strongest ally will be grateful hearts.
On closing, I asked each person in the audience to say “thank
you” to someone present to whom they owed an unacknowledged
debt. What I thought would be a few minutes turned into
20 minutes or so of fervent greeting, hugging, and even a few
tears. The experience led me to think that we, in this affl uent
society, live mostly in a poverty of gratitude. And that is a simple
problem to solve.