Should we hope for things to return to normal?
As I was reflecting on the state of the world and where we are at this juncture in the history of humanity in general, I could not help but wonder whether there ever will be a return to “normal.” But was what we had prior to the onslaught of COVID, normal? Should we hope that things go back to the way they were?
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
I doubt whether anyone at this point has any ready answers. What if now’s not the time for answers, but for more questions…for us to assume a variety of perspectives, to begin to open ourselves as seeing the world and experiencing life through the lives and experiences of others. Should we be asking different questions?
Dream of the Return, with music by Pat Metheny and sung by Pedro Aznar, and the accompanying video lifted me to a place beyond the norm, i.e., beyond the land and sea and brought me to a place of rest, possibility, and meaning. Such is the nature of hope. That music, what we as humans do, some more naturally than others perhaps, to create (which all of us do) and thereby inspire and lift up others seemingly beyond the norms of space and time, compels me to believe that indeed there is hope for humanity beyond the boundaries of what we typically conceive in terms of normalcy. Hope itself is the new normal.
So, let’s keep creating and inspiring one another to keep hoping beyond our normal capacity to imagine beyond our finite minds and limited human perspectives. Let’s do this together.
I hope you enjoy the song!
Dream of The Return Music: Pat Metheny - Vocals: Pedro Aznar I tossed a poem to the sea that took with it my questions and my voice Like a slow ship it got lost in the spray I asked it not to return without having seen the open sea and in dreams telling me of its visions. Even if it didn't return I would know if it arrived. Travel the whole life on the blue calm or foundering in storms little matters the way if some port awaits I waited so long for the message that I forgot to return to the sea and thus I lost the poem I cried to the heavens all my rancor I finally found it written in the sand like a prayer The sea beat in my veins and set my heart free https://lyricstranslate.com
Photo courtesy: konstantinos-feggoulis on Unsplash
commentary Meditation on the video
starts of with aerial view…birds soaring…underneath, the crashing waves…swooping down close to the blue waters…the sandy shores…now out to sea….albatross? hovering over the waters….wide angle…horizon: green blue waters meeting the sky….and that’s when the solo comes in…i am the albatross over the waters…scanning…perhaps for food or more like soaring…for the pleasure of it…
like the whales in the ocean….dolphins…picking up speed and twirling in the air to once again crash in to the waters below…..the school of them…porpoises?
on the surface…sailors…on the waters…one with creation–horizon, land, water, sea creatures, creation at its best!!
the color of the sky changes…the sun looking large…a homage: dipping its rays into the water….invitation to reflect and bring it all back to shore…gentle waters amongst the rocks on the shore…sandy beach…sunset…the end of day….
