Reasons for Optimism

A brisk walk this morning along the English Bay beach facing a wind that could be described as ebullient, I realized that every day brings with it another reason for optimism. Yesterday, for example, I met a couple of gentlemen at a bar on Davie Street and both of whom were interesting and showed an interest in me. The handsome blonde of a very striking face, full of intensity, was also a trembling man, lips quivering, facing his limitations I suppose. The elderly burly Hollander invited me for dinner which I declined only because by then I was a little tired. But they both pleased me and reminded me of the value of my humanity.

The streets of the west end are really spectacular with the magnificent trees spanning the width of the thoroughfares, their leaves mingling with the trees across. All of this loveliness would be so much more appreciated if we could as a citizenry look after and show personal care for the homeless and the desperately unemployed. Why can't we find a leader who will show simple compassion? Even the Roman autocrats of yore kept corn bins available to the hungry. The indifference of our current leaders is an embarrassment to all good people and all those people who keep voting for these city and provincial leaders are guilty of a kind of sneering inhumanity that puts Vancouver to shame. Why would we want to put this on global display at the Olympics?

But early morning walks around Lost Lagoon (and occasional runs) help to reconnect me to godliness as there is an absence of people who, unfortunately, with their lack of manners and choosing to be tuned out can be a blight upon the overall scenario. We are yet a long way from a climate of goodness but these walks and my contemplations about the possibilities of mankind remind me that we each have a powerful means to make those changes which ultimately could bring peace and comfort and even occasional bliss to all.