I pray I live long enough to see the media's obsession with Ferguson, Missouri give way to never ending accounts of how local leaders, business owners, neighbors, churches, service groups, and young people come together to reclaim their community.

I envision a time when Ferguson shows us how to transform a series of extremely serious and sad circumstances into a region enriched by diversity, where employers clamor to draw from the city's talent and work ethic... a time when we turn our collective attention to deep healing, systematically learning every single lesson Ferguson, Missouri has to teach us.

As a proud Missourian, I admit to being hyper-sensitive to events in the Heartland.  It's my home, and this is unfolding right in my back yard. It's personal. It is no longer possible to deny the world-wide impact of occurrences in an obscure village or a small St. Louis suburb.

This weighs on me.  I admit it. My reactions have been all over the place, from anger to hurt to judging to worry to question after question including "didn't we resolve all of this in the sixties?" to "how will the persisting unrest impact our local economy?"  I am not proud of these selfish and superficial feelings.  

My grappling, however, has led me to a profound realization: I Just Don't' Get It!     

1. As a white female living and working in a rural area, I do not understand what it is like to be a black male in an urban area. I don't get it!
2. I do not have a clue what it is like to be a police officer, responding to calls to protect people and property while reacting to chaotic and threatening circumstances. I don't get it!
3. I have never lost a child to death.  I cannot imagine how devastating that must be, under any circumstance.  I don't get it!
4. I have never been on a grand jury, and had to digest massive amounts of information while the world is obsessively debating the unfolding events.  I don't get it!
5. I've never made my living as a journalist, reporting in real time on rapidly unfolding events and emotionally charged circumstances. I don't get it!
6. I do not know what it is like to be a pastor, a social worker or a community leader providing support and leadership to members of a heartbroken community.   I just don't get it!

I can only process all of this from my personal perch, filtered through my life experiences, socialization, education, opinions, view points, and dare I say, prejudices. 

I may not have a clue about how it feels to walk in another's moccasins, but here's what I do get. Ferguson, Missouri is not about Me, not about my opinions nor my preferences; it's not about my concerns and considerations. It is not even about Ferguson, Missouri. It is very much about WE!  WE the people of this great Country.  All of Us; not just some of us. Every single one of us. 

Our collective journey from ME to WE has been underway for decades.  We are no longer independent actors on this planet.  Like it or not, we are very much connected.  As the planet grows ever smaller our interdependencies increase exponentially, and become more obvious. Seemingly unique problems and challenges in one locale translate into problems and challenges for all of us. 

I am reminded of a tune from the non-violent movement of the sixties, Let's Get Together performed by the Youngbloods.  "Come on people now, smile on your brother. Everybody get together, try to love one another. Right now."  It sure couldn't hurt.  Think I'll change my ringtone. 

Your Coaching Challenge, Should You Choose to Accept It:

What small steps will you take this week to move from a ME to WE perspective about this situation or other situations in your community, work or personal life?