Long Distance, Calling the Universe

I wrote “Long Distance, Calling the Universe” back in September 2017.

Last week, I saw a White police officer murder a defenseless African American on TV as three other officers looked on.

The last five days have been marked with national anger, protest, and violence and destruction during a global pandemic. I can’t even imagine the continued escalating cost in lives, futures, and trust.

As a White man, I can only listen and attempt understanding what it’s like to be the object of systemic hatred, inhumanity, and even murder; based only on skin color.

Long Distance, Calling the Universe

So every morning, on walking through the office door, I check-in on what’s up with the Universe. And it’s cool because the Universe sends me emails…as in “Tut: A note from the Universe. (www.tut.com)”

And what I’ve learned from Tut is the Universe is a lot like my mother; it’s good at making me feel guilty.

Having recently spent considerable time thinking about disturbing stuff I never thought I’d ever experience in a million years in the U.S., I knew I needed a good stiff 100-proof shot of the Universe to get me back on track. So I looked up what the Universe had told me on my birthday.

“Every burden bears a gift, Jack, every challenge brings a treasure, and every setback hides a blessing.”

Is it just me, or does time and space sometimes seem a little too good to be true?

“Hallelujah,

The Universe”

And to make it worse, the Universe always signs off with, “Thoughts become things; choose the good ones.” Dang it!

Last week, the CEO of one of the top global dental manufacturing companies came under fire, mostly from my colleagues, for sharing and speaking his conscience…through a full page ad in USA Today.

Dr. Dan Fischer founded Ultradent Products, Inc. 38-years ago from his garage with the help of his children. Today, the company lives up to its mission to “Improve oral health globally through science, creativity, and education” by being a world leader in developing high tech dental materials, devices and instruments. The company and its leader also have a long history of reaching out to help others. In fact, for the last several years, Ultradent has contributed its top whitening product, Opalescence, to our Smiles for Life campaign. And I wish appreciating a major company with a conscience wasn’t so special these days.

The one page ad shortly followed the weekend of intolerance, hatred, violence, and racism in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Fischer’s essay addressed the president’s response and expressed an incompatibility of his and the country’s core values with those of the president. Fischer wrote of his respect for the presidency and love of country. But if Dr. Fischer met Mr. Trump, he would simply turn his back and, ideally, face the flag.

Some of my colleagues seemed to either embrace the president’s behavior and approach or weren’t willing to rock the boat while Nazis and Klan members were identified as some “very fine people.” For me, it’s odd that someone can spend eight years in college and have more tolerance for someone like Mr. Trump than they can muster for Dr. Fischer.

In a perfect pre-Tut Universe, I’d attack my White House-supporting colleagues mercilessly. But then that’s where the “Thoughts become things, choose good ones” proposition always stops me…just like my mom (but I still made the point to get in every last word.)

And, today I gave Dr. Fischer gratitude and 5-stars on Facebook and pledged my total loyalty to Ultradent and its leader (Ultradent, Inc. already had it). I also shared “Every burden bears a gift, every challenge brings a treasure, and every setback hides a blessing…”

I hope so.

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