During the isolation or quarantine led by the Coronavirus, we are fortunately able to count our blessings. Certainly, we miss large, medium, and even small social gatherings – even the whisky tasting planned for last weekend (hey, if it is a good hand sanitizer, then …).
Fortunately, we live in the country, and we are gradually adapting.
I’d love to sit down at a piano and play some tunes to enliven the home, pice some lively Bluegrass on a banjo, or even share my music as the rosined bow glides across the strings of my fiddle. Actually I wish that I had musical talents, but after trying piano, coronet, banjo, and fiddle … well, years of attempts have shown that musical talent is not in my genes. However I’ve hand crafted banjos and mountain dulcimers that look and sound much better in someone else’s hands than in mine!
Fortunately, we live in the ‘burbs of John’s Station have space to wander and walk freely outdoors, through the forests, down to the swamp and Loch Lorne, where we can observe nature’s changes as spring has sprung. If the weather is okay, the wheels mounted on my main workbenches in my wood shop allow me to roll them out of our garage door and leave the messy wood shavings and sawdust outdoors. That is much better than cleaning the shop. Sawdust finds places that no one knew exist!
Surprisingly, woodcrafting requires complete mental focus, concentration, creativity, precision, and patience – all proof that my aging mind still works, and it thoroughly enjoys its prolonged escape from political turmoil, negativity, and the current pandemic.
We are all blessed with certain, special, personal talents by our Creator, and hopefully everyone rediscovers and utilizes them (if able) during the foreseeable future.
Just to get out and enjoy new scenery, taking time to pick up litter from the roadside and even mow about 3/4 mile of shoulders on both sides of the road by our house, observing wildlife in our area and the greenery that is gradually returning to the hardwoods, bushes and grass, thoroughly enjoying just walking around through the woods, feeding the neighbor’s goats and horses, marveling over the abundant changes brought by the arrival of spring – or God’s season of rebirth, and utilizing my limited woodcrafting gift to created something unique – all make social isolation much easier to bear.
Here’s to wishing that your special talent(s) sustain you, fully understanding that — when we are truly humbled — we find ourselves.
Beacham McDougald
Laurinburg