Greetings Sun City Readers! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas a happy Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year to you all!
A year ago, I had the privilege to share with you a remarkable tale from World War One—the story of the “Christmas Truce.” In the midst of dire circumstances, ordinary soldiers from opposing sides chose a miraculous path. Pulled from their homes and thrust into some of the most desolate conditions of warfare, they set aside their conflict during Christmas. For 36 precious hours starting on Christmas Eve, they courageously ventured into No-Man’s-Land, exchanging stories and sharing whatever morsels of food and drink they possessed. They played soccer, traded haircuts, and sang Christmas carols. Amid a world fraught with madness, it offered a fleeting glimmer of hope.
Fast forward to 2023, turmoil echoes around the world. The news swamps us with tales of hardship—be it domestic, international, statewide, or any corner of the world. The panorama appears bleak, leaving little room for celebration. Despite this, I feel compelled to share some reflections with my friends and neighbors. We will persevere. Throughout history, both America and the entirety of humanity have weathered storms far graver emerging stronger, safer, and largely happier.
Cast your mind back to the 14th century—a time marred by events that shattered centuries of stability in Europe. Termed as The Crisis of the Late Middle Ages, this era witnessed trials that dwarf the challenges of 2023. The Black Death, a devastating plague, ravaged half the population between 1346 and 1353. Preceding this was The Great Famine, which decimated Europe’s populace an estimated 30% by 1322. These tumultuous 30 years witnessed the fragmentation of the Roman Catholic Church and the rapid decline of the Holy Roman Empire. Popular revolts threatened the cohesion of nation-states.
However, amidst this “Medieval Mania,” the seeds of the Renaissance quietly germinated. The common folk were unaware of the remarkable changes and miracles about to unfold. Art, music, science, and architecture experienced a profound rebirth and advancement. Civil engineering, once nearly perfected by the Romans with their bridges and aqueducts a thousand years earlier, was rediscovered. Agricultural methods improved, resulting in enhanced overall health. The spirit of exploration was rekindled.
This serves as a simplified illustration of a period in history when despair loomed large, only to be proven wrong. Humanity has weathered countless disasters, wars, plagues, revolutions, upheavals, and even phenomena like the Kardashian era—and yet, we persist. We still gather with our families, celebrate holidays, enjoy improved health, and for the most part, lead more comfortable lives. We are okay. We will endure.
I remain attentive to the news, aware that events around us impact our lives. It is crucial to be an informed citizen and to understand what is going on around us. However, the other night I was listening to classical music and decided my first New Year’s resolution was to worry a little less. We are going to be okay.
