Seeking Shelter From The Storm

There were dark developing storm clouds over these two contrasting levels of shelter as I enjoyed a moment on a Sardinian beach. The tower is the Torre Cala Pira, built for shoreline defense in 1639. The tent was put up in the morning of the picture to provide a little shade, and shelter from any eventual rain. Somehow I saw the state of much of humanity in this contrast.

For all too many, protection is flimsy and the storms are all too real. They thrash body and soul with hurricane winds and cluster bombs. Too often innocents are held hostage, or worse, and the rest of us watch uncut and often untrustworthy images. What to do in an apparently unjust and unsavoury world? Where is there shelter?

For those who are lucky, how to choose who to shelter and protect? There are so many? For those who must decide. Is it for punishment or conciliation?

With nature all of us have seen some bad luck, some very bad luck. Nature can seem mean when unchained and confronted. Humanity is pushing nature’s boundaries for supporting humanity. Can we adapt new transport, shelter and ways of being to weather that storm.

I have read that it is our imaginations that differentiate us from other life. Although I am not so sure of this assertion I know that in my case most of my storms come in the form of imaginings. It does not take much for my morning muse to fill my mind with dark clouds. I was taught by a psychologist while going through chemo(a real enough storm) to imagine positive images when the sky darkens, and so I have a few beautiful images that I carry for that purpose. So for some of us perhaps the storm, being internal and thus invisible, seems flimsy to others and we, too weak to withstand a minor wind. Careful not to imagine easy cures to the curse of our gift. For some this mind, when gone wild and in pain, is a very great danger, and it needs shelter, much shelter.

So look around and listen. Where to seek shelter from the storm? Am I wrong in feeling that other humans seem the greatest danger to any of us at any time. I would like to believe otherwise. I would very much like to believe otherwise, and as an educator I have seen the good and the sensible act as multipliers. In many communities very well educated people need multiple weapons, need to lock their doors and belongings and trust no one. But I do know communities where this is not the case. It is no longer sufficient for trustworthy, wise, sensible people and communities to just be. In these current times we need you to act as multipliers, we need you to share your skills and attitudes. We need you now to help as shelter from the storm.