We live in a time when the lines between reality and fiction blur with every click, swipe, and headline. Like Lauren Olamina in Octavia Butler's “Parable of the Sower,” we are being called to something radically important: bear witness.
As Lauren navigates her ravaged world, she witnesses how her actions and those of others change the world. Our ability to observe is imperative in a more chaotic world than ever. We cannot afford to look away.
We stand on the threshold between what is and what could be. If we are not careful, we risk becoming pawns in the clash between reality and fiction.
Butler's tale teaches us something profound: "All that you touch, you change. All that you change changes you." We are not passive observers of our fate. We are active participants in it. And what we witness shapes our lives, communities, and the world.
Written over 30 years ago, “The Parable of the Sower” still rings true: We have the power to shape the future. But this power requires the courage to bear witness, no matter how painful. This is not a luxury. This is a responsibility. In a constantly changing world, we must never forget that we are the architects of our own reality.