Wind the Clock
Many years ago, someone sent a letter to author, E.B. White, lamenting
that he had lost faith in humanity. Mr. White sent the following reply.
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman,
the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left
to us in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a
contribution to order and steadfastness.
Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great
bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a
break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite
obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a
people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting
to sprout when the conditions are right.
Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into
deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his
way out.
Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is
another day.
Sincerely,
E. B. White
The photographs on this page are from the country of Greece.
Hope is a renewable option: if you run out of it at the end of the day,
you get to start over in the morning. — Barbara Kingsolver
This page is dedicated to the memory of Peter Fouche, aka “Pete the Medic.”
Peter was a British citizen who volunteered to help defend Ukraine. He was
a medic on the front line and is credited with saving the lives of over 200
wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Additionally, he saved countless numbers of
civilians by risking his own life to evacuate them to safety. He was treating a
wounded soldier on the battlefield the first week of July, 2024 when he was hit
by shrapnel and killed instantly. Sadly, the hero who saved so many couldn’t be
helped. He is gone, but his courage and compassion will long be remembered.
Music: Moonshadow
Images on this page are courtesy of Pixabay.
Some of the graphics used as dividers are thanks
to talented Pixabay illustrator, louda2455
