Sharing a new tomorrow
A brook at the Green Mountain Horse Association in South Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
One of the gifts of writing is that it’s elastic, broad, expansive. It can capture things that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, those things enter into the written word by way of the camera lens.
When we were walking late in the day on Saturday, on the grounds of the Green Mountain Horse Association in beautiful South Woodstock, we crossed a small bridge with a quiet brook running underneath it. Unassuming and serene, the sound of the bubbling water came to my ear, and then the sunlight dancing on the surface amid the shadows caught my eye. The camera lens wasn’t far behind.
That quiet moment came on a busy holiday weekend. GMHA’s historic 100-Mile Competitive Trail Ride was back in town, bringing equestrians and spectators from near and far. On Friday night, tackle football returned to Woodstock Union High School, where WUHS notched a big 35-16 win over Springfield. Also returning to the area this weekend is the Quechee Balloon Festival, with entertainment for all ages. On a yet larger scale: The school year began this past week for the Woodstock area and many other districts, with Vermont students able to see their teachers and each other once again, five days a week.
Taken together, these events and many others mark a return to familiar ground, more progress toward more normalcy. Though the pandemic and numerous other issues present challenges, the opportunity to visit loved ones more often, see our kids return to school, and enjoy the events and activities we missed for so many months, does have a powerful impact. Being out and about gives you another lens through which to process the changes of life and come to terms with its challenges and further opportunities for progress. And you understand more fully that others are having this experience as well; we are one world going through this next chapter of existence, together.
That said, “together” doesn’t always feel comfortable. We’ll encounter obstacles as the world grows into a new future, and people will confront the tough questions about what we’ve really learned from the past 18 months. But right now, we are building from moments, quiet moments of reflection, whether it’s walking past a bubbling brook, or spending time catching up with family or friends. Those times let the light of good pour in and illuminate our experiences every day. They give us opportunities to ponder concepts bigger than ourselves, and be aware of issues that merit more of our attention. If we approach life, right now, with a more expansive, compassionate thought, that’s fertile ground where lasting progress can take root. And that’s the way to nurture and care for this vast, precious world we all share.
— Gareth Henderson
