Traveling southbound on the Pulaski bus, I was surprised to find a Lake Streeter sitting next to me. As we talked, I looked up and saw about six other Lake Streeters on the same bus. I wanted to finish the conversation and to greet my other friends as well. Then I woke up.

Pulaski Road, on Chicago’s west side, cuts through some beleaguered neighborhoods. I take that bus every day and see many people who appear to be hanging on by a fraying thread. Lake Streeters are regulars at the Lake Street Church of Evanston, a community of intelligent committed people who walk the talk like no other.

This dream was a gift from my subconscious mind, a reminder that there are millions of people who get that we are connected with each other and with all of life. When you finally get this connection, it changes everything.To believe this means that “winning” is only achieved when we all win.

Now, when anxiety and fear have a toehold, wouldn’t you like to know who are kindred spirits? This YouTube video of  Dancing in the Belgium train station metaphorically illustrates that there are people all over the place who are on the same page. When Julie Andrews began to sing Do Re Me over the loudspeaker, people broke into a dance of choreographed, collective, contagious joy.

The child hood game that ends with Come out, come out, wherever you are! calls all players to come out of hiding and get back to home base without penalty. Now would be a great time to be able to recognize who in the check out line or on the bus is a kindred spirit so that we can give and get charges of encouragement as we go about our busy lives. Lacking the ability to read auras, a symbol to indicate our kinship would be handy. During the Great Depression, some homes were marked with a symbol indicating that it was a welcoming home. There are millions of people out there and it would be comforting to recognize each other. Come out, come out, wherever you are! Now is the time to make yourself known and be counted.

Tags: community