I heard an author this week describe the research process both as a deep dive for facts and also as a treasure hunt for historical characters, the ones who can animate a story and carry it forward.

A few minutes later he distinguished between characters and caricatures, noting that the goal is not to craft a simplistic narrative of good versus bad, but something much more interesting, more nuanced, more true to life.

Dear ones, these days, so many of our inputs tell simple and divisive tales. 

May we resist the caricatures.

May we explore the messy aliveness of our world.