Almost daily, I read the news and I quickly lose faith in humanity. I wonder if there ever has been or ever will be a world full of compassion and kindness, empathy and acceptance, and just beauty, arts, and love.
Yesterday I was walking through Montreal on a beautiful sunny day, in the middle of the city near Rue Saint Catherine and at the stroke of 5pm, I heard bells ringing. I took off my headphones and listened. It wasn’t just a short song and five gongs to punctuate the time, but it was an entire song, at least 7 minutes long. A beautiful, ear pleasing melody that filled the air and beckoned all to pause for a moment and simply enjoy.
I looked around. We obliged. Strangers in a city, some native, some visiting like me, stopped and listened. I saw smiling. I saw eyes closed, drinking in the song. I saw people looking around to find the source. There was a reverence for this that brought us together for a few moments only the way that art has the power to do.
And beyond being a lovely way to start my walk to Old Port and Old Montreal on this glorious day, it gave me hope. At some point in the shameful, violent history of our people, someone had an idea of ringing bells from a building in a city. Of playing a song. I imagine how that might have gone. I wonder what kind of resistance this frivolous, unnecessary, costly idea was met with. And then I think that someone rich and powerful agreed. Someone decided that riches were nothing at all unless there was beauty in the world.
When I was growing up I marveled at the generosity of the rich and powerful. They way they created public spaces both indoor and outdoor for the regular people to enjoy. Museums, parks, libraries, heck, public schools were started by affluent women. It was a point of pride for the rich to give back and make their communities better, perhaps by ego, or perhaps, less cynically, by an honest desire to do good. My favorite place in the world is Acadia National Park in Maine, built on Rockefeller’s largesse. Were these titans good and altruistic all the time? Of course not. But they left their mark on the world by doing what we all should do, make it a little better for as many people as possible before we go.
Today, I see the majority of the rich and powerful as greedy…as, what’s in it for me…as, lying, cheating, and power hungry without any honor or decency. Sure there are exceptions who are legitimately using their wealth and power to change the world, but so, so many don’t. And we seem okay with that as a society, as a country. There’s an attitude of “I earned it and it’s all mine” that sort of breaks my heart.
Money, while convenient, is a silly thing to chase and hoard when you only get 80 years to live and breathe on our earth (if you’re lucky). Doing good should be part of our existence and, all too often, it’s not.
But, when I heard the bells, I was reminded that there are people who value beauty and arts and spreading what’s best about our collective humanity. So many, really. There was a person in Montreal who pitched an idea for bells that play a song for whomever happens to be walking by to spread joy. And, that, makes my heart happy…and hopeful.
Related Posts
Locust? Famine? Floods? You wish. Nope. The Aging Apocalypse is not the…
I have a vague recollection of my life before I was applying…
If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you are well…
Not to be totally paranoid, but I’m pretty sure September is trying…
We weren’t doing anything wrong. We weren’t drinking or doing drugs. We…
Hey there, I’m new to pandemics, and let me just say, I’m…
I have no idea why we care about some things deeply, and…
Years ago, we were living in a teeny tiny, can’t stand up…
I don’t have insomnia. I feel like insomnia is like depression, we…
I’ve mostly made peace with all of the perceived perfection I see…
My philosophy of life is somewhere in between Buddhist compassion and metaphorical…
Remember Happy Fun Ball from Saturday Night Live’s greatest commercials? “It’s Happy…
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll happily take a massage and a shout…
You’ve got to hand it to Gen Xers. We have been so…
So, I’m going to India. Such a simple sentence but I can…
Dear Friends, It is the first day of the year and of…
So, my friend invited me to a Better Than Ezra concert. She said something…
Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a prime candidate to hate…
Dear Forties, Hello. Hello. It’s me. I know things have been over…
Hey Kids, Feel free to leave your stuff wherever you want this…
“Enjoy every minute of it” is the most well-meaning piece of parenting…
Do you remember when I posted this photo on Facebook? When I…
Someone started a comment to one of my blogs with, “Not to…
Resumes are kind of my thing. My entire career has been evaluating applicants…
My thighs and I have a troubled relationship. There is a great…
Nestled deep within the quiet suburban setting, we come upon the natural…
I love my family, and I love eating food, but put them…
You’re not going anywhere until you survive the week before, which is…
Forget Tiger Moms and Helicopter Parenting and the latest parental wackiness I’m…
This is my 13th consecutive year with a child in elementary school…
Are you the default parent? If you have to think about it,…
There’s an age-old trick in the conversations of married couples dating back…
I have never liked horror movies. It was one and done for…
RULES FOR BEING MEREDITH Handed Down From Current Writing Software 1. You…
There is much debate about the worst stage of parenting. Is it…
Showing your kids the movies you grew up with. What could go…
For the first time since my daughter started her senior year of…
After being married for two decades, I’ve noticed a couple of things…
‘Twas the week before Christmas when all through the house, Stuff was…
If the title of this doesn’t instantly traumatize you, you probably weren’t…
I saw an ad for some kind of tutoring for kids, I’m…
I get it. You don’t want a minivan. The entire idea of…
There are so many things about myself I “should” try to change…
It’s not your parents’ midlife crisis. Hey, how’s your midlife crisis going?…
I don’t know about you but I’m overwhelmed by all of the numerical…
This is the somewhat true story of how my husband eating an…
Something happens to my husband when we go on vacation. He turns…
I was a tour guide in college. I worked in admissions. I’ve…
If you’re anywhere near middle aged, you are assaulted on the daily…
Every minute of every day you wait patiently, a quandary, Oh, there…
The last year of my life has been, let’s say, tumultuous. I…
I recently got a crown. We all know there only a few…
So, you’re headed out on a family vacation this summer. Great news!…
I happen to love teenagers. Both the ones I’ve worked with for…
My husband watched this video of a woman removing a cyst from…
Did I say September was the worst? I might have to retract…
…or a Seinfeld Bond. Either Way. Today is the day that 20…
Turns out 45 years old is just 45 years old. An age…
Have you heard about Hamilton? The run-away smash hit musical currently dominating…
Christmas is my favorite holiday. No surprise. It’s a lot of people’s…
I was just thinking about jugglers. Because, of course I’m thinking about…
You know when you are feeling fat for you how you spend…
The Vidalia. Like The Onion, Only Sweeter. February 15, 2016 by M.Blazoned…
For the first time in over five years we are sending out…
I guess I expected it would be easier this time. After all,…
My inner voice is an asshole. For as long as I can…
You ever wonder if you are doing a good job raising your…
You know how when you were growing up you said you’d never…
Last week I was trying on a dress in a godforsaken dressing…
I love Christmas and I love buying gifts for people, but put…
When I was growing up, July 4th was my favorite holiday. Forget…
Nice story. Gracias.
I’ve had so many unexpectedly wonderful moments of joy in this artfully rich city! So great that one was well timed for you. I’m thankful that my daughter attends McGill University and that she likes me to visit!
Thanks for writing this.
Truly one of my favorite places, Montreal. What a wonderful story!
What a beautiful way to start a day – music in Montreal AND a Meredith blog on my couch with a cup of coffee!
I long to be on your couch or you to be on mine! xoxoo
Beautiful. You. The writing. The sentiment.
Thank you!
Nice to see you find the beauty Mer!