To See Such Times

Seeing all these news stories, all these closed businesses, everyone walking the streets in masks. It made me think, man, what a time to be alive. You know those old photos of families during The Great Depression? We’ll have that. Photos of families wearing their masks as they go for a walk. Photos of a cashier wearing a face mask in an empty restaurant waiting for someone to walk in to order takeout. Photos of shuttered restaurants, bars and businesses that had otherwise been open for decades. Our grandkids may ask what it was like when the whole world was put on pause. What will we say? I think about that. What person did we become? What did we lose? What did we gain?

A piece from Lord of The Rings comes to mind. Frodo says to Gandalf, “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” And Gandalf replies, “So do I. And so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with time that is given to us.”

A woman wrote me recently whose husband died of COVID, and listening to ‘Imagination’ made her feel closer to him. I feel blessed to have built that bridge for her. I hope to build more bridges. I really hope to be part of some kinda light, man. The world could use some light. I challenge everyone reading this to use all that’s happening as an opportunity to build – yourself, your relationships, your families. Maybe when all is said and done, when we’re asked what we did during these uncertain times, we’ll reply that we chose hope instead of despair, we held closer those we love, and we caused something more to glow within us.

Challenges provide the mortar from which we can build, man. It brings to mind flowers blooming from fractured asphalt after an earthquake. Anyway, sending some joy and encouragement your way. You got this. 💀