“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. ”
~~~~~~~
“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”
~~~~~
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to
think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true
education.”
~~~~~~
“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.”
~~~~~~
“A lie cannot live.”
~~~~~~
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final
word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger
than evil triumphant.”
---Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bill and I took a Sunday drive yesterday---this time heading west toward Priest River.
Along the way, Bill asked if I wanted to go to Spirit Lake.
"Sure," I said.
After all, the point was to get out and see some different scenery. We had not visited Spirit Lake for well over a year.
Our trip kept changing weather channels. From uplifting blue skies and billowly clouds, by the time we reached Priest River, gray gloom took over for a few miles.
We also saw pockets along the way showing varying levels of snow from the night before.
Driving into Blanchard, generally bare ground and big patches of blue sky lifted our spirits.
Bill does a lot of forestry work in that area, so he pointed out an old railroad grade on county property and asked if I wanted to walk.
Of course, I did. So, we enjoyed a pleasant, leisurely stroll with farmland on one side and forests on the other.
Later, we drove back into snow pockets along Spirit Lake and fog until just south of Sandpoint, where clouds and blue sky were vying for attention as we drove the Long Bridge.
Another nice getaway, and on this Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday, it's nice to know that we are on the downward spiral of January.
It hasn't been too bad, especially when we can rake the yard and walk around many areas in street shoes.
A conclusion for the times ahead, based on interviews with disease experts from the New York Times Jan. 18, 2021, newsletter . . . .
We should immediately be more aggressive about mask-wearing and social distancing because of the new virus variants. We should vaccinate people as rapidly as possible — which will require
approving other Covid vaccines when the data justifies it. |
People
who have received both of their vaccine shots, and have waited until
they take effect, will be able to do things that unvaccinated people
cannot — like having meals together and hugging their grandchildren. But
until the pandemic is defeated, all Americans should wear masks in
public, help unvaccinated people stay safe and contribute to a shared
national project of saving every possible life. |
Finally, one more thought from Martin Luther King, Jr. for all of us to cling to during these times:
Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow,
I still have a dream.
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