Brenda’s Blog – June 16, 2020
“Spontaneous voices began singing the national anthem, celebrating health care workers.”
As I write this Italy is essentially shut down with people quarantined, hospitalized, and desperately ill with the COVID19 virus. Anxiety shows on faces throughout the world. Grocery stores feature empty shelves and customers load up on toilet paper!
Where darkness threatens to envelope, hope lights a match. This time it was a song.
An Italian street broke out in song as men, women, and children stood on balconies lifting up the national anthem. One after another window opened with heads popping out. The sound reverberated down the old stone-clad Italian street.
For a few minutes the isolation of quarantine disappeared. Neighborly encouragement spread organically. Then as medical professionals walked with weary steps back to the hospitals, the applause began. Soon, they were cheered on by grateful residents. Hope filled the air.
Right now we are living with uncertainty. We are told to self-quarantine and keep a significant social distance from others. The isolation can create anxiety leading to depression. What should be out response?
What song should we be singing? Who should we be encouraging? What spontaneous praise can erupt from deep in our souls?
There is a deep, natural aquafer where I live. It is ancient and free running. Hope and joy are very much like that. We can dip into the waters of renewal, sharing it with others during seasons of doubt.
We must stand on our balconies, loudly singing our songs, bringing light to the darkness and music to the silence of separation.
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