We start this month’s Compassion with an incredible story about two friends who arranged for a car to be donated to a man who walked 5.5 miles to work every day in order to work 12 hr. shifts/7 days a week—he had promised a dying friend to look out for her son after she passed. Then there’s this story about police officers rescuing an elderly man from a burning house. See also this video of a man rescuing a hawk that had become entwined in fishing line—notice how calm the hawk is. As if the Universe had said, “He is there to help…”

In this California school district, parents weren’t willing to put up with an anti-transgender school board member, so they successfully mounted a campaign to get the question of recalling her on the next election’s ballot. See here. I should also note that this week, the Pope announced that priests could bless same sex couples—it’s a step in the right direction. See too this story about an Ohio news anchor who came out as gay live on air. Finally, earlier this month, I was interviewed as a “Zealous Hellion” at Mixed Blood Theater, where I talked about human vulnerability and compassion. Mikki Morrissette, the editor of Minnesota Women’s Press, wrote this piece about the interview; if you scroll down, you’ll also see a link to a brief talk I gave last year—at the time, I didn’t think it was that good, but now in retrospect, it’s not bad! 

Here is a story about a Florida career librarian who had finally had enough of that state’s backward movement on free speech and just about everything else. And, in keeping with my editorial above, see this story about how Wisconsin Republicans held hostage $800 million for pay raises for the state university system’s 34K employees and funding for a new engineering building on the Madison campus. The ransom: the state university regents had to agree to dismantle the university system’s DEI programs. Sadly, after initially balking, the regents caved. Here’s a similar story about Oklahoma—DEI is now gone from that state’s entire public colleges and universities. It will only get worse, folks. (But don't worry, I won't give up...)

For this month’s Relief, we begin with this ten-year-old being surprised by his returning service member big brother. See also this wonderful story about a “portal” between Poland and Lithuania where people can wave to each other—how ingenious. We need more of those! Then there’s this piece about a golden retriever (of course!) raising very adorable African Painted Dogs. (Check out their ears!) Finally, here’s a story about seals being released onto a California beach and another story about wolves released on a Colorado mountain. 

My best friend and loyal Ripple reader Dennis Tharp sent along this story about an LGBTQ+ community center named “Queer Futures” opening in Steamboat Springs, CO. The money for the center came in memory of a son who died of an opioid overdose. Also, I’m a fan of David Brooks, and here’s his recent NYT piece on essential skills for humans, including how to talk to each other. 

Lastly, several of you have recently donated to Human Ripple Works, Inc., the nonprofit which makes it possible for me to do more work for organizations that lack budgets for training (like talking to Gender and Sexuality Alliances at various schools across the country). Thank you for that! If you’d like to support this work, please click here on the HRW website. Thanks!