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When I was a child, our family had a friend who was a bird watcher. He had, I seem to recall, well over 400 species on his life list. Got me interested. So, later, my wife and I kept bird feeders, and had bird books and binoculars. Knew a little; not experts.
Also, once while we were in a hard time, a friend who knew, said to us as a compliment, "You seem to be above it."
I have watched what I think was an eagle, soaring with wings stretched flat. With binoculars, when it makes a turn, you can see its wingtip feathers spread out. Very special. This eagle can inspire us, to get above this pandemic.
My father told me that, during wars, they say there are no atheists in foxholes. Now I see that, in a pestilence, there are no Darwinian evolutionists.
COVID-19 mows us old guys down, like taking a sickle to a harvest of wheat. This culling of the population, this removal of the weak, this survival of the fittest, is good for the species; an evolutionary advantage. A real Darwinian would approve.
But, for our political leaders, public health officials, health-care workers, loved ones - for most of us, not so much. We are agreed to protect seniors, folk with serious health problems, and others at risk, as best we can. Most of us support difficult measures, to save precious individual lives.
But we also have the deadly peril of the pestilence. And we have, for many, great economic, social, and other change and hardship. A situation we can only sustain for so long.
Think like the eagle. Stretch your wings out flat, and let the steadying breeze lift you above all this. Not to escape your life, not to ignore your problems, but to soar - so you can survey, examine, view with perspective. To see better, where to go from here, what to do next, what resources there are below. To know better, what help choices options you have.
And when you need to make a turn, spread your wingtip feathers full open, and catch that most supportive wind.
Ralph Wood
Orillia
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