The secret of a good old age is simply an honorable pact with solitude. -Gabriel García Márquez (in 100 Years)

nobody asked...

I just saw this post on NPR, which drew me back to the readings and discussion of Le-Chambon-Sur-Lignon during my course on the Holocaust in college.  Reading about this village, about what compelled individuals to make sure a high sacrifice during tumultuous times, was lasting. It was so infused with meaning that I can replay portions of the conversations in my head, reconstruct the make-up of the class, and feel the cloud of quiet contemplation that pervaded the standard academic drone of the room.

Our class (as it goes with any class that covers the Holocaust) was not focused on stories like Le-Chambon, in part because of the general lack of stories like Le-Chambon. There were so few who stood up when the stakes were high, and many who did likely never had an impetus to seek attention or share their story afterward.

But, reading about the interviews and stories of these individuals, and people like Olive, plants deeper questions in all of us.  What is it that leads some to make such simple yet bold choices in the face of grave danger?

I remember, of the people in Le-Chambon, that what was remarkable was that they didn't really see not caring for their Jewish neighbors as an option. The decision was so clear it was made for them.  This seems like a common narrative, reminds me of the tone and perspective of Olive in Rwanda.  It makes me think about how our daily, small choices to structure how we perceive the world can become a framework for the bigger questions, the ones that bind together our existence.

Song of my Spring

I've been playing 'Iscariot' on loop over the past few months.  Tonight, I was struck by how much the song fit with the prolonged winter (and waiting) for Spring, as well as those first few days -- when the cold air is still sharp, but not biting, and you realize the restorative days of Spring are within reach.

This song is my February, March and early April.  It's a reminder of pain, loss, and misperception. But it's also a song of a reckoning that leads to renewal.