Hi everyone! I hope everyone is staying safe during this uncertain and difficult time. I want to start with a huge thanks to all the key workers across the world. From Healthcare Professionals to Delivery Drivers, thank you for being you. And to all the volunteers a huge appreciation of thanks as well. Given we’re all now for the time being stuck in doors, this is the perfect time to reflect.
Whilst I may not live in a picturesque country-side village in Scotland like the one in the photo, I’m grateful to have Rouken Glen Park and Dams to Darnley Country Park nearby. Living in Glasgow has its ups and downs but as one of the largest cities in the UK, I’m thankful. So much so that when I think back to when the blog was started the opportunities for blogging around Scotland alone was a starting point.
Now that we’re in lockdown these opportunities will be decimated. I just hope we will recover to a level where we can boost the economy to as close to pre-Covid 19 levels.
Just now I’m sitting in HQ/the converted garage, listening to Music Travel Love (MTL) and their version of See You Again. Composed by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth and commissioned for the soundtrack of the 2015 action film Furious 7 as a tribute to actor Paul Walker, the opening two lines have never been more apt:
It’s been a long day without you, my friend And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again
Similarly MTL’s cover of Ben E King’s classic Stand By Me at Lake Powell highlights the strength of the lines:
No I won’t be afraid Just as long as you stand, stand by me
Thinking back on my travels over the past year to New York, Boston and Chicago I wonder how the people I have met are getting on and whether they are safe. I know some of the restaurants have had to close whilst others have adapted and are now local community kitchens.
The partially frozen over Japanese Garden of the Phoenix in Chicago will start to have its cherry blossoms in full bloom in a week’s time and I would’ve loved to have seen the difference. However I’m glad I was able to visit it when it was peaceful and quiet in February.
I googled Japanese Proverbs about strength and found two poignant sayings.
“An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught“.
“After the rain, earth hardens“.
They mean: The environment makes our characters and Adversity builds character. The second proverb also has a secondary meaning as After a storm, things will stand on more solid ground than they did before.
Given our predicament having to isolate, keep away from family, work from home, not see friends and other things, I take stock in knowing that when we come out the other side we will be stronger.
Even the motto of The Boys’ Brigade ‘Sure and Stedfast’ comes from Hebrew 6:19 stating “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” is comforting given we have hope in the people that are keeping our countries going whether UK, Australia, St Lucia or Hong Kong.
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