#542 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday December 26)
Good morning,
Every year, Merriam Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary publish their “word of the year (that’s coming next week!). These times are tough. It feels like perhaps there should be an Emotional state of the Year—or the Decade. With the continuing effects of the pandemic, a volatile economy, war in Europe, and attacks on democracy and institutions of our civilization, it often feels like despair is the emotional state of our moment.
One of the favorite “sign offs” with many of my friends is “take care.” This would seem a valuable phrase to govern our reactions, behaviors and outlook. We need to take care—of our society, of our friends and neighbors, and of ourselves.
One should recall that, even in the darkest and most uncertain moments, there is reason for hope and beauty as well. If we can’t focus on the positives at the new year, when can we?
WORDS OF STRENGTH AND HOPE
We now muddle through the current strain of COVID, which is no longer is as fatal and as frightening as it was. We have to remind ourselves how far we’ve come that once was unfamiliar and life-threatening, without a vaccine or proven therapies, unknowable for its breadth or its ultimate outcome. While it remains potentially fatal, it is nothing like the disease that took the lives of over 1,000,000 Americans. While there was fear and loneliness during that difficult time, there were those who stepped forward to provide inspiration in that crazy world. Governor Waltz’s words were proof that sometimes a soaring speech is exactly what we need:
“While we may be separated physically, we stand united. From Rondo to the Range, from North Minneapolis to North Mankato, we are One Minnesota.
And a new day will come.
The sun will shine. The trees will bud. The birds will sing.
Spring will arrive. And when it does, we will dig out. We will do whatever it takes to support Minnesotans and businesses to get back on their feet.
Our communities will forever be changed. Our state will forever be changed. Our world will forever be changed.
We will grieve all that was taken from us. But we will also celebrate all that’s given to us. Unity. Humanity. Gratitude.
We will be more united as a state. We will cherish each other’s humanity. We will have endless gratitude for the lives we lead.
These trying times have led us back to each other.
We will value those we overlooked before. When times got tough, who did we lean on? It was the nurse. The grocer. The truck driver. The farmer. The janitor.
We will recognize all that educators and child care providers do for our students, our communities and our economy.
This crisis shows how much Minnesota depends on our schools not only to teach our children – but to feed them and provide for their physical and mental well‐being.
We will recognize all that public health workers do at the local and state level to detect and respond to health threats, not just infectious disease outbreaks but the many other threats that impact our personal and community health.
We will continue to look out for the most vulnerable—the poor, the sick, the hungry. Many have stepped up to protect them during this crisis and that dedication to their dignity and livelihood must endure.
We won’t take normalcy for granted. Our modern lives move fast—and this presents an opportunity to slow down and appreciate what truly matters.
We will welcome the morning rush getting our children to school.
We will smile as we pass restaurants bustling with friends sharing a meal.
We will gather again in our houses of worship.
We will have a renewed appreciation for the calming power of a warm embrace.
We won’t just make it to spring. We will come out better on the other side of this winter.
Because we are Minnesotans. We see challenges—and we tackle them.
No matter how daunting the challenge; no matter how dark the times; Minnesota has always risen up— by coming together.
Our blood saved the Union at Gettysburg.
Our iron forged the tanks that liberated Europe.
Our farmers sparked a green revolution that fed the world.
Our imagination transformed medicine—and appears poised to do so once again.
The State of our State is strong.
The State of our State is resilient.
The State of our State is united.
And our hearts are filled with gratitude for each and every Minnesotan and the role they play in the fight against COVID‐19.
Thank you.
Stay home, and stay healthy, Minnesota. Goodnight.”
Have a great week,
Glenn
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