Little else in life is as embarrassing as having an article of clothing rip open while in public. Janet Jackson will long be remembered for her “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004, exposing more than she intended. We probably all know what it’s like to bend down in a grocery store and hear that unsettling sound of splitting seams or to be walking through a hallway and catch a sleeve on a door handle with the same result or to have a zipper break or a button pop off revealing more than we cared to show.
Clearly, split seams scream to be repaired if one is inclined to do so. Split seams could also be a metaphor for our lives in general. Not all our relationships hang together over time. Not all our plans fall neatly into place. Not all our dreams work out as we hope. And not a one of us escapes the experience of the death of someone we love. The split seams in the fabric of our lives can leave gaping holes that are uncomfortable, painful, even debilitating. Many of the rips cannot be repaired. Some certainly could be with some effort, but most of us avoid the hard work of addressing misunderstandings, owning up to mistakes, asking for forgiveness, offering apologies, confronting difficult people, and engaging in deep, honest self-reflection. For many of us, mending is simply not something we find within our wheelhouse.
A movement is afoot in this country. It is known as One Small Step and its mission is expressed through slogans like “Let’s Talk… for a Change.” One of its billboards reports that six out of ten Americans are tired of the divisions that are ripping this nation apart. Launched by StoryCorps, the movement encourages conversations between differently minded people, not for the purposes of debate but for the creation of connection between one human being and another. In July of last year, Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps, authored an article titled "Together, We Can Mend Our Country’s Divisions” in which he states, “From all corners of our nation, we have heard calls for unity. We must answer this call and meet the moment.” [Together, We Can Mend Our Country’s Divisions | Billboard Insider™] The split seams in the fabric of our land are evident everywhere, exposing the potentially destructive hubris that lurks in every human heart. The repairing will, of course, require effort if we are willing to do the hard work. Are we inclined to do so in order that the sounds of harmony might settle among us in our homes, in our communities, and in this land?
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