>> THERE'S THIS ONE IDEA.

THIS ONE CONCEPT.

THAT KEEPS POPPING UP IN THE BOOKS I READ.

I'VE NOTICED IT IN EVERYTHING FROM HARRY POTTER TO WAR AND PEACE.

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

EVEN DURING DARK TIMES, NORMAL LIFE CARRIES ON.

THE CONCEPT IS SO UNIVERSAL, I'VE ALWAYS ACCEPTED IT AS A GENERAL HUMAN TRUTH, BUT IT'S ONLY RECENTLY I'VE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE IT PERSONALLY.

YOU SEE, WE ARE LIVING IN DARK TIMES.

LARGELY BECAUSE OUR INDIVIDUAL SENSE OF ORDER, OUR TRUST IN THE SYSTEM, WHICH USED TO FLOW IN A OMEWHAT UNIFIED DIRECTION, ALMOST LIKE A WEATHER PATTERN, IS NOW SCRAMBLED BEYOND FUNCTIONALITY.

MORE LIKE ACOMB BUGS REACTION.

AND THAT'S WHY I WAS SITTING UP THE OTHER NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT MY CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.

ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, THE DARK STUFF.

HOWEVER, AT THE EXACT SAME MOMENT, I NOTICED A CATALOG AD FOR A FALL JACKET, I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF COOL, AND I WENT, OOH, I GOT A BIT EXCITED.

AND THERE IT IS.

THE PROFOUND AND THE TRIVIAL, ORBITING EACH OTHER IN A SORT OF TIMELESS HARMONY.

EVEN IF THE SKY WAS LITERALLY FALLING, A SMALL PART OF ME WOULD STILL BE THINKING, I BET THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO LOAD THIS DISH WASHER.

AND THAT'S THE LESSON.

EVEN WHEN WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF THE ABYSS, WE STILL NEED TO WALK TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I FIND THIS OVERALL TO BE A HOPEFUL THOUGHT BECAUSE IT MEANS OUR NORMAL SELVES ARE ALWAYS IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY, WE CAN USE A BIT OF THAT NORMALCY TO PUSH BACK SOME OF THE DARKNESS.