I am tired tonight, I got up at 3 a.m. to come downstairs and work on my book “Lessons From Bedlam Farm.” The last few days have been intense – Christy, the Mansion, the refugees, Chloe’s leaving,  the farm, the immigration lawyers, the undocumented agricultural workers, the art kits, and I need to slow down a bit and clear my head.

It isn’t that I need to stop, quite the opposite, there is much to do, much to write, many photos to take. I need to stop again and ask myself what is it, exactly, that I am doing and trying to do.

I got some help this morning with a message from Carol, someone who has not always appreciated my writing or ideas. Many people come to my work because they want to see cute photos dogs and other farm animals, they understandably do not wish to be reminded of the exterior world.

Neither do I. The last few months have been a gift for me, because they have awakened me to the need to sometimes range beyond that, as I think I always have, only more consciously. I have no wish to publish a political blog, but I am eager to use my writing and experience to help others find peace in turbulent time and to understand our shared values and work to protect them.

As one reader told me yesterday, “we are living in a nightmare.” in many ways, this is true. Just ask the refugees, immigrants and agricultural workers, some of whom I am driving in desperation see to immigration lawyers, as they hear story after story of their friends and family members being torn away from their and sent back to a place without hope for them.

Carol was gracious enough to help define for me what I am trying to do and hoping to do, and I thank her for her letter:

“I have enjoyed reading your books and your blog for several years now. I was drawn to your writing because of my love for my dogs originally, and because of my work with my therapy dogs in the hospice area. But I have found your writing on other subjects to be quite profound. Grieving is one of them. But what has been a pleasant surprise for me is several of the topics in the last few months that have been on the political campaign. And then the last two days there have been some of the topics in your blog that are personally beneficial to me as I begin the healing process as I work through my grief in this post election period. I never thought Jon Katz would be the one to bring peace, and perspective to the chaos and confusion that surround my thoughts and emotions. Keep writing about politics, Jon. Many of us need to hear your thoughts. Many of us benefit from your wisdom.”

It is nice to hear that, Carol, sometimes I need other people to tell me what it is I am trying to do. I never thought Jon Katz would be doing those things at this time  either. Life is full of crisis and mystery.

I don’t wish to write too much about politics, I only write about it as it affects my thinking and life, I do not argue with people or tell them what to do. There are plenty of places to for political news, I don’t wish to be one of them.

But Carol wrote something that captured my heart when she wrote about her grieving after the election. When I take Camilia back to the immigration lawyer – we are going back in two weeks  – and I see the fear in this good and generous woman, I grieve. For her, for my grandmother, for my idea of my country. –

In a democracy, people will differ, sometimes my people win, sometimes not. But there is a lot of grief and fear in our world now, and if I can find a peaceful and hopeful perspective, as Carol suggests, I am eager to do that. I think I haven’t made clear that insofar as I can be peaceful and hopeful it is because of the animals I have had in my life.

The election has reminded me to define what it is I believe and to find a peaceful and positive way to express it. I am proud of the fact that I have not once been drawn into argument or self-righteousness by the election. I am growing up, learning to live, to try to do good, not to argue about doing good.

They have always made me wiser and better, they can do that if you listen to them. So thanks for the note Carol, I am happy to surprise and surpass expectations. That is what being creative is all about.

(We are seeking to raise $1,200 for between 80 and 90 art kits for refugee children in the upstate New York area. Any help would be appreciated, these are one-time donations in any amount. Thanks, you can donate here.)