The other day, I went out in the back yard to water the garden. I stepped down the stairs from the deck to the yard and I almost stepped on two baby doves. They were huddled together and did not make any effort to move out of my way. I stood there looking at them. Still no attempt to flee or fly away. Finally, after several minutes, they tried to fly away...only making it a few feet. Clearly they were still learning. So here I was, towering over them...and I was overcome with emotion. These little living creatures were completely at my mercy. They were completely vulnerable...and they were absolutely beautiful. I wondered how that must feel...to be so fragile and helpless. But I do know. And so do you. We all do. The COVID-19 virus, like every other virus in the natural world, should remind us that even though we put men on the moon, have iPhones, antibiotics, etc....we are still vulnerable. That will never change. In his book The Greater Journey, David McCullough recalls the cholera pandemic in Paris in 1831. Over 700 of the first 1000 cases died. Imagine how helpless people must have felt. No one knew what caused it, or how it was spread. And there was no cure. And unlike COVID, there was no such thing as "asymptomatic cholera." When you got it, you got it. And you probably died from it. I don't think we should be shocked when a pandemic arrives and takes lives. It is sad, and frightening. But not shocking. I read an old newspaper article recently from 1897 that reported on a family who lost 5 of 6 children to measles. Imagine having to bury 5 children. Thankfully, we now have vaccines for many of the diseases that used to kill people in great numbers. And we have antibiotics that prevent infections that used to kill great numbers. BUT, we are still vulnerable. It is the way of the natural world. So live each day as if it could be your last. Squeeze every bit of joy and love that you can out of every moment you are given. I didn't harm those defenseless doves. Pandemics are not so benevolent.
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As I continue to learn how to play the guitar, I recognized a parallel between practicing an instrument and running. In long distance running, you have to put in the miles. Every day, you have to get out there and do it. Some days it feels good. Other days, your legs feel like a bricks. But overall you get stronger and your fitness increases. The bad days are still productive. Same with music. I have been practicing alternate picking. Some days, I am dialed in and see great progress. But the next day, it is a shit show. My fingers have no clue what to do. I feel defeated. But the NEXT day, I can do more than I could two days ago. Even the seemingly unproductive practices pay dividends. I'm having fun even when I suck. I'm getting better even when I suck.
Black Lives Matter. Xavier Foley expresses this in his playing. A black man playing music written by a white man. And I, a white man, am spellbound by Mr. Foley's musicianship. He wrestles this huge piece of wood with strings and delivers a beautiful performance of Bach. I pray someday we don't see color. Music transcends. This performance is proof that .
