Good Evening, God
I saw this photography in the current issue of the Smithsonian. It is of the basement area (where the workers lived) of the Alhambra. My wonderful husband Kit just said, “That is the gloomiest photo I have seen in a long time!”
I found it riveting! This shows the dark area where the workers, cooks, bakers, cleaners, soldiers, etc lived and worked. And I wondered how often they saw the elegance and beauty of the world above? So what captured my eye? Perhaps it was the contrast? Or was it just the steps going up toward the LIGHT? To me the image seemed to call me . . . UP! UP INTO LIGHT.
Sigh . . . it is all about focus, isn’t it, God. I am looking at the light with delight! But, as I pause and ponder I can feel the semi-dark the folks below worked in. Why semi-dark? Because LIGHT cost money. And while there was no end of money for the rulers up above — that was NOT the case for the workers below.
Hmmm. This has pretty much been the norm. March 25, 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed 146 workers — mostly women. And that got enough publicity the laws were passed to improve conditions. But, the fight is still going on. Workers have unionized to better pressure the owners of factories to improve safety conditions. I am thinking of a friend and his experience in steel mills.
But, if the “light” of publicity is not present — there is no pressure. Why? Well, we humans organize in layers — hierarchies. And the “profit” motive means that the intermediate people have nothing to gain and everything to lose by pushing for greater safety. Greater safety has immediate costs. It may well save money in the long run. But, by then the safety advocates are out of a job.
Truth tellers — are often out of a job. Funny thing, I just watched a video by Gabor Mate on how people who cannot — or do not say NO — have their bodies say NO for them.
Authenticity seems to be essential to our health.
As individuals. And as a society.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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