Feeling fragmented? Disconnected? I think we are all card-carrying members.
I am having to dig deep into my Toolkits for new answers this year, folks. No kidding.
A story dating back to 1897 has given me pause to think about an approach that may push us all toward a more unifying mindset and one that could pave the way to wholeness for ourselves and our world.
It all starts with a kite aptly named Union, and a 15 year old boy named Homan Walsh.
As I recount the story, that can be found HERE.
I want you to mentally draw parallels to our current day and time with all of the division we are experiencing, both internally and externally.
Back in the day, there was a divide between two countries no one had been able to bridge. The icy, turbulent, and dangerous waters of the Niagara River were often impassable by ferries. Building a bridge between the United States and Canada required stretching strong cables across the wide expanse separating the countries.
How to start bridging the gap?
Developers decided they would start with getting a kite to fly across the river and securing the kite string on each side.
Who better to fly kites than kids?
A contest was launched and young people on both sides converged to get their kites in the air. Our young man, Homan, from Nebraska, set off to the Canadian side of the gorge by getting a ferry ride. Armed with his trusty kite named Union and plenty of string, he had to clamber up steep cliffs and walk two miles to the appointed location of the future bridge.
Up, up, up went his kite. He thought he had succeeded in crossing the great divide, but suddenly, his kite string went slack. Turned out, the kite had crossed over but as it settled down on the American side and the string was cut by jagged rocks.
Homan spent eight days trapped on the Canadian side because the river had frozen. After staying with friends, he was finally able to ferry home, retrieve his kite, and cross back to try again.
His second attempt was successful when his kite drifted to the ground on the American side and was, eventually, secured on both sides. In a few days, a stronger cord was attached and pulled across. Then a rope. Then wire. Then cable. Eventually a bridge was built.
It’s a short, fun read and I hope you will enjoy all the details later.
Point being this: a great divide was bridged. A mighty bridge was built thanks to a slender kite string.
Fly a kite today.
Symbolically, about everything we’re doing is through the air (waves). Send out a kite to a friend you haven’t reached. As the temperatures moderate, bridge the gap to 6 safe feet outdoors with a friend or two.
I flew a kite today to reconnect with my body. Self-motivation for daily solo exercise is at an all-time low, so I utilized an online app to exercise in a class. After one session, I felt a positive connection to doing something good for me. I am ready to tie a stronger cord to that kite string as I do a second session today.
With each victory, a stronger connection is established.
Whether you are sending out a tiny feeler, peace offering, meditation, prayer, or a new activity, remember that strong, unifying bridges can be started with a tiny kite string.
Where are you flying your kite today?
In health-
Deidre
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