I’m flying solo with Julia on Martin Luther King Day. After a morning braving the cold to do some grocery shopping, she is in the other room enjoying a movie while I wrestle with my thoughts.

I’m pondering the strange circumstances of this day…

Today, we celebrate a man whose life and words were dedicated to justice for the marginalized, but acquiring it via peaceful means and recognizing the common humanity of everyone. Some may disagree on the outcomes; but the beauty of the words Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used to paint the possibility of a beautiful future are irrefutable.

But earlier today, a new president was sworn in. Mr. Trump was chosen by the traditionally messy American electoral process – but in my mind, that messy process has become increasingly toxic over the years.

I took a break from it today; but I have been listening to the words that Mr. Trump chooses for a long time. To say they diverge from the sentiments of Dr. King is an understatement.

One example:

Friends – there is understandable disagreement on border policy. It can and should be debated peacefully and honestly; giving and taking and persuading. But labeling fellow human beings as “vermin” when they are on the other side of any border – geopolitical or otherwise – is not okay.

People differ widely on policy, and understandably so. I have spent time considering the reasoned opinion of both politically liberal and conservative voices. For now, I’m going to take a beat and simply evaluate the unfolding actions and outcomes of his administration.

Meanwhile, the words of both Trump and King linger in our collective imagination. The tensions between the two (in my mind, at least) have simply not been resolved as anything other than diametrically opposite.

On a day of such contrast, it’s the girl watching the movie in the other room that’s front of mind.

According to conventional societal measures (e.g. cognitively, developmentally, and verbally, to name just a few), Julia is clearly at a disadvantage with others. Nonetheless, she excels at teaching me humility and the reality of what really matters.

Over the years of trial and a ton of error, she has helped me settle on a basic lens through which I can evaluate my choices. On a personal level, the dialogue in my head goes something like this:

“You are presented with a person over whom you have a clear advantage. What do you do?”

Exploit? Ignore? …or Help?

That question is just as important for a person steering government policy to ask themselves as well.

With the face of my daughter firmly in mind, I will spend the rest of my life asking that question – of myself, my community, and my leaders.

And because, as a society, we endeavor to do great things, we will fail.

A lot.

Sometimes that failure will be personal – other times, it will be more collective. Sometimes, it will precipitate unforeseen and devastating consequences.

But in the honest knowledge of our personal failings, perhaps we can let our hearts be soft and be in a posture to forgive.

Maybe forgiving an opposing political party is too heavy a lift for now. But would it be possible to forgive a friend, a stranger, or even a perceived enemy?

It’s a slow process, to be sure. But I am encouraged by an assertion from Dr. King:

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

It is my prayer that Mr. Trump participates in that most worthy endeavor of making this world flourish for everyone – folks like Julia, especially.