Turn of the Tide

"We must be wary of ourselves when the worst of man becomes objectified in society, approved, acclaimed, and deified, when hatred becomes patriotism and murder a holy duty... “   -Thomas Merton

 

Walking home last night in light rain along the river in Ljubljana, the streets abuzz with a convivial chatter, the beauty of the exquisite architecture, the flowing water under the bridges, the church bells began to ring. Not for nine strokes announcing the hour, but over and over again for some fifteen minutes. The sensual mix of rain, visual delight, full bellies and the music of the bells transported me into the European mythos captured in paintings or novels or films, a sense of “God’s in her heaven and all’s right with the world.”

 

I didn’t know what the occasion was for constant church bells, but waking up to the news that the Teflon guy has been found guilty on 34 counts made me connect the two events. “Ding, dong, the witch is dead!” Not quite yet, as for reasons still unexplicable to me, a convicted felon can’t vote but can still run for President? But still it signals a turn of the tide and hopefully the first of more to come that will topple that evil, evil excuse for a man who indeed became “objectified in society, approved, acclaimed and deified and who held up hatred as patriotism.”

 

According to my fantasy, the sun should be shining brightly this morning and the birds singing out, but in fact it is still raining. But no matter, I’m still hopeful that “the wrong shall fail, the right prevail.” May it be so!!