“By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the eastern United States as the deadliest and most destructive, as well as the strongest hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Together with Storm Athena, a sometimes bitterly fought election (seemingly mild by today’s Trumpian standards), a clearly divided United States of American, and more can gave rise to physical exhaustion, frustration and despair. For those who lost everything in the tragedy of the storms and those who believe they lost something through our “messy” democratic process, we needed encouragement not to give up. If this all sounds remarkably similar to 2020, it should. Obviously, 2020, as it turned out was far worse with the inclusion of COVID-19.
During these time I’m reminded of the status message sent back in 2012 by the principal of my high school alma mater. This school is located in Jersey City, NJ, in what, at one time, was the western shadow of the World Trade Center buildings (albeit a long shadow to reach across the Hudson). In an eerie reminder of tragedy, writ small, my high school was nearly half destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
The principal started his report with the above quote from Charles H. Spurgeon, a 19th century English preacher. It was a head snapping reminder that in times of adversity, real or perceived, we must keep our focus on the prize and run the best race that we can.
Share this with a family member, friend, colleague, or simply someone you meet who might be in need of an encouraging word. In these places we call our homes, our places of business, our communities, our land of opportunity we are better together than we are apart. Being better together means lifting each other up not tearing each other apart. Now is, again, a time to search your mind and your spirit for what is truly prized and plant this thought, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark”.
I for one believe this and want to believe you do too.