An Open Mind
A friend suggested I write a little bit about having an open mind and coming together as a community to figure out and solve issues that only together can be solved. He recently read a portion of the Declaration of Independence aloud during Penobscot Days. Penobscot Days is a wonderful community event consisting of a big parade, a cookout. a big yard sale and many other activities supported by the town’s Historical Society, school and fire department. It is a wonderful celebration of the amazing, hard working community members who make the town what it is.
On Sunday we attended a ribbon cutting ceremony that celebrated the new Mill Stone Park, that was formed alongside the new Mill Brook culvert project. As I stood there with my husband and son, what struck me most was the way the town of Penobscot came together. Harold Hatch, Select Board member, gave a moving speech full of thank you’s (including his sweet wife of many years - because if you are going to be a selectman for the town, support from family and loved ones is an essential piece of the successful puzzle. Sarah Leighton and Vivian Turner were also there as select board members to lend a hand with love and support for their wonderful town.
What we witnessed this weekend was community love. When love is paired with an open mind, it transforms a collection of individuals into a collaborative powerhouse. When we approach community issues with love and an open mind, we prioritize the collective well-being above personal agendas.
An open mind also allows residents to actively listen to diverse perspectives and embrace creative solutions. No problem is too large to solve when tackled with mutual respect and empathy.
Interesting fact: The town of Penobscot was established in 1787, only 9 years after the Declaration of Independence.
Coming back to the reading of the declaration of independence. There are so many beautiful parts to this body of work that are worthy of our intense investigation and inquiry, but the one that stands out to me the most is the final few lines that read… And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
What is beautiful about this sentence is that as “signers” they are committing to making the Declaration a reality, not just words on paper. They refer to divine Providence basically because the outcome was uncertain, they were also relying on their faith that they would have divine support.
Another interesting part is when they say …we mutually pledge to each other.” – because they were not making a promise to the public but making a promise to each other and that they were willing to risk it all, their lives, their wealth, their livlihoods and their sacrad honor. Because in the 1700s a person’s honor was considered one of their most valuable possessions. By signing they were saying, “our word is out bond. We will not abandon this cause and If we fail to keep this promise, we lose our honor.
As a community they stood for supporting each other more than anything. In essence they were saying “We are all in. If this succeeds we succeed together. If it fails, we’ll face the consequences together.”
When the declaration was adopted in 1776 the signers were openly declaring independence from the Brithish Empire. If Britain had decisively defeated the Revolution, many of the signers could have been tried for treason, which at the time carried the possibility of execution. The closing sentence underscored that they understood the risks and were accepting them together.
Love and gratitude,