Community - The Gift of Statecraft 3-16-10

Anderson, South Carolina

Each spring the university offers a course in foreign policy; providing a seminar format for perhaps a dozen of us to second guess American statecraft. Optimal foreign policy strategies for coping with regional and global conflicts are proffered by us armchair prognosticators. Our first week we discussed the virtues of executive appointment of special envoys; individuals who mediate resolution to problems refractory to conventional diplomatic solutions. In general, this strategy has not been especially effective. A brilliant exception to this was the quenching in early 2009 of extreme violence in Kenya following a corrupted national election. Countless thousands of lives were saved by the swift concerted action of a special envoy appointed by the President and that of representatives from adjacent African governments.

Since mid 2009 we have observed with keen interest as federal policy makers have made yet another attempt to come up with a national plan to provide affordable accessible health care. As with many other administrations, these attempts faltered and faded into the dusty pages of the Congressional Record. Finding workable solutions to exploding health care costs and issues of accessibility seems as difficult as finding the Holy Grail.

Like envoys and policy makers, finding solutions to our own personal problems is difficult, unless one adopts a form of grass roots statecraft that can deliver the Holy Grail. Recently a special envoy came to our attention, one who took it upon herself to improve the lives of hundreds of people by applying her craft to solving very real problems affecting millions - Alzheimer’s and associated forms of dementia.

Alzheimer’s is especially hard on those caring for loved ones with this scourge. It has been observed that patients with various forms of dementia are often agitated and especially fidgety. This agitation can be particularly taxing on caregivers. June Woodall noticed that patients who are given something to twiddle with or pick at experience much comfort from being able to do so. This tactile form of distraction proves soothing to these tortured souls. After exploring the availability of commercially made fidget pillows and table mats, June found them to be shockingly expensive. After all there is big money to be made in health care.

June took it upon herself to create cost-effective solutions to obvious therapeutic needs. Building an infrastructure of volunteers, she was able gain regular supplies of tassels, buttons, beads, fake fur, corduroy, and various textures that could be turned into stunning pillows and mats, looking almost like three-dimensional quilts. Quietly, behind the scenes, June made grand works of art for years and delivered them to seniors having a hard time holding onto serenity. Patients found it easy to hang onto June’s gifts and love them to death, picking away at the buttons, beads, zippers, fluffy fur, and other tactile decorations covering these.

We just had June’s funeral on Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people came to say farewell to one who worked tirelessly to bring color, texture and peace to those literally losing their minds. Her husband, Earl, brought mountains of these pillows and mats to church. Family and friends were invited to take one and give it away to someone who would enjoy it. He wanted June’s ‘work’ to continue.

Suddenly I had a mission. Taking flowers and chocolates to nursing homes is one thing; taking magnificent three-dimensional quilts made into the form of crosses, hearts, and prisms is another matter altogether. To avoid being crass, I waited until most people had left the church and then proceeded to ask Earl if I could take pillows and mats to my ‘regulars,’ offering him a tiny bit of back story. I figured he didn’t want these collecting dust in the parish hall. He gave me permission. I couldn’t bag them fast enough.

There’s not a better thing in the world to have been doing last night than paying it forward with June’s art objects. We spent the evening in several nursing homes passing out fidget pillows to our regulars; a truly amazing experience. Everyone receiving one of these colorful pillows thought Ed McMahon had shown up with his camera crew. All were elated, even the guys. A couple of women were in tears, saying they’d never been given such a thing before. For sure, I hadn’t.

Being allowed to be a conduit for June’s love to those feeling exiled in their ancient bodies was exhilarating. Time with these dear ancient souls was nearly numinous. June would have been elated to see the radiant faces of those who received them. I was just as elated to pay it forward.

June long ago figured out solving problems requires first becoming a careful observer, not offering answers until the question is heard clearly. She then came up with a low-cost custom-made solution to a health challenge faced by her beneficiaries. As a successful envoy or diplomat knows, one must be able to speak into situations stakeholders find themselves in. June spoke into the lives of those tormented by unceasing restlessness. She loved them into blessed relief, at no cost to those trying to re-organize health care without first listening to the question.
It’s been said that for democracy to prosper it is not required for everyone to agree, but everyone must participate. For community to flourish it’s necessary for everyone of us with different gifts, values, talents, strengths and weaknesses to be woven together into three dimensional fabrics that can stand up to the challenges of our day. June certainly developed the state of her craft to a degree special envoys might want to make note of.

I think I will call Earl and see if I can get some more of June’s stock before it runs out. I think she’s now busy getting ready for a state dinner - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.