I am just reading an article from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), called “Scientists put a dying coral next to a healthy one — and watched it heal before their eyes”.
I’ve always respected the power of touch.
If malevolent, it does unspeakable harm.
If healthy, it does miraculous good.
Not just for coral.
I was a Special Education teacher, and worked with many people who faced many kinds of challenges.
One wonderful woman I worked with was blind and deaf. She was slated to be confined to a residential institution because she had begun to sit and rock herself. I decided to sit with her every day, to hold her hand, to stroke her hand, to keep touching her hand as she rocked. Within a week the rocking stopped, and she and I responded to each other reciprocally with out hands. The loneliness of her existence was profound, the need for compassion and needed touch were not well understood, and certainly held no clinical importance at that point in time. My reports made no difference. Sadly, she was moved out of my workshop, the rocking began again, and she was institutionalized. I’ve always felt our side let her down, failed her…
Imagine though, if coral can bring damaged fellows back to life, what kindness, compassion, and connection can do to bring us back from the brink of hatred on which we are poised.
Every little thing we do that is kind, compassionate, considerate, polite, respectful, positive in any way, may play an important role in healing our wounded world, physically, spiritually, intellectually, environmentally…
No matter how small the action, no matter if anyone else knows the action was taken, I believe doing it will make a difference. I believe that is what will make the world a better place.
Worldly
Weather
11°C
Kingston Airport, ON (28 km)
Date: 12:00 PM EDT Saturday 24 October 2026
Condition: Mainly Sunny
Pressure: 103.6 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: 10.6°C
Dew point: 6.1°C
Humidity: 74%
Wind: SSE 8 km/h
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“Never be a cynic, even a gentle one. Never help out a sneer, even at the devil.”
Vachel Lindsay
1879 – 1931
Using the most popular definition of cynic, one who distrusts human sincerity and integrity, I might find some limited truth in the first sentence of this quote. But this form of doubt is not universally detrimental, there are many we meet in life whose motivations are not of benefit to the human species. Trust is earned, sincerity and integrity are revealed in actions, one must wait and see.
I do agree wholeheartedly with the second sentence. I do not partake in poking fun (a sneer by my definition) at the pathetic powerful beasts that plague the worlds communities. In as much as possible they are to be ignored and attention given to the many who have wonderful leadership abilities.