Turning Memories into Hope: Rising Together
Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition that my partner and I honor by placing our loved ones—relatives, friends, even those we never met—on a mantle or table, depending on where we are, as symbols of love, remembrance, and respect.
To us, it feels like Halloween or other traditions where we look back on those who came before us, thank them, and maybe ask for their quiet guidance as we move through our own lives. My grandparents came from the Azores, those tiny islands off Portugal’s coast. They arrived here by boat, in search of opportunity and prosperity, leaving behind friends, family, and a familiar life. They carried little more than a trunk or two and a faith in this new world, believing they could make it better for their children.
The United States, imperfect as it is, remains a place of people from every corner of the globe. Together, we’ve carried traditions, ideas, and a kaleidoscope of customs that have shaped our collective spirit. Each generation builds on the last, giving us resilience and a compassionate union that’s woven into our identity.
Today, it’s hard not to be disheartened by the divisive headlines, by the hatred that still surfaces. But we are also the ones who lift each other up. We’re the firefighters and the nurses, the chaplains and cab drivers, the teachers, and even the astronauts who journey into space in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.
So, as I look back at the faces on our mantle, into the eyes of those who loved and built, who served and sacrificed, I honor them. And in that reflection, I find that we honor one another too. We honor our struggles and triumphs, our joys and wounds, our shared dreams. We want peace, justice, and an end to suffering, though history has shown us how difficult those are to achieve.
It’s up to us not to get lost in the noise but to center ourselves on the truth that beliefs shape who we are. Who do we want to be? Why?
Wherever we light a candle in good faith, we honor each other; we light the way forward. My hope, my prayer, is that this year, our ancestors offer us the wisdom to let go of fear, to welcome each other’s hearts back from exile.
First, we say Yes to each other; then, together, we Rise.
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Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash