I am worried. We live in a world where greed, fear, and aggression steer our actions and set the agenda. It seems we never learn; we repeat the same behaviors again and again in what appears to be an endless cycle.

The First World War was called “the war to end all wars.” Why would such a slogan gain traction? Well, simply because the horrors and misfortunes the war brought were so severe that no right-minded person could imagine wanting to go through such an event again. The idea was unthinkable.

Yet here we are again. We point out enemies and build weapons at tremendous speed. History repeats itself.

Is it inevitable? I hope not. I believe that we can do better. The question is how. How can we do better?

We will face hard times — that seems certain. It is difficult to see how we will break out of this vicious cycle of greed, fear, and aggression. Do we have a choice? Humankind is sometimes described as the species of free will. If so, it is time to refine what that means.

At the same time, I am not without hope. The world will not end. The planet will not die. Life will continue — far beyond our wildest notions of human power.

I find solace in that — even as we struggle to find our way.