From conflict to connection

The afternoon sun is slipping below the horizon, turning the ash tree’s web of black branches pressed against the sky into fine art. Soon, a cloud of starlings will settle at the top before making their way south. When these chatty kids arrive, I imagine them crafting travel plans together before lifting off in unison toward their next adventure. It’s a sure sign winter is on the way.

As I sit here admiring the lingering light, I’m thinking about the aftermath of the election and how last week’s...