“Feed the body food and drink, it will survive today. Feed the soul art and music, it will live forever.” – Julie Andrews
On a trip back east last Thanksgiving, prior to this stay at home pandemic, we watched the movie “The Sound of Music” with our two grandkids. It brought back fond memories of doing the same thing 30 years ago with our daughters but not so fond memories of trying to explain to them in a non-frightening way why the Nazis wanted to eliminate us Jewish people. We also watched Mary Poppins, which was by comparison a big relief. We actually wore out the VCR tapes with these two films.
The star of both movies, Julie Andrews (born 1935), has now been acting for six decades. She appeared in several Broadway musicals during her career until she lost her singing voice after a bungled surgery. At that time she said, “Singing has been a cherished gift, and my inability to sing has been a devastating blow.” Eventually she did go on to become an author and published her memoir as well as a several children's books. She once said about her success, “I really feel very blessed, and I don't forget it, either; there's an awful lot of wonderful talent in this world, and I just seem to be in the right place at the right time.” This sentiment echos the words of Ikeda Sensei, "Those who always have a sense of appreciation and gratitude never reach an impasse in life."
Most Beautiful One (MBO) and I both had similar challenges. MBO returned to college in her thirties to get her degree, something she had chanted Nam-myoho-renge-kyo about for many years, and then began her dream job as an elementary school teacher. When the fatigue from her multiple sclerosis (MS) made it impossible in 1997 for her to continue as a full-time school teacher, she was really crushed. But, she made a strong determination, with confidence in her Buddhist practice, to turn this challenge into an opportunity.
Her positive attitude makes me think about this song from The Sound of Music:
I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me
Thanks to her principal, MBO was able to become a part-time reading and writing specialist with a minimal loss in salary. When we moved across the country to an island in Washington State in 2004, she started a tutoring business and has since helped over 50 students – some for several years.
As for me, I taught myself how to type at a young age because I never learned how to correctly hold a pencil. My grip makes my fingers ache. Several years ago I developed painful arthritis in my hands which is really frustrating for a writer. I tried dictation programs but my brain and imagination were too deeply attached to my fingers. This was also around the time I wanted to return to playing the piano and clarinet which I also could no longer do. My younger daughter suggested I take up the harmonica which was a brilliant idea. So, my long time prayer that music would re-enter my life came to fruition. And my physical therapist helped me learn how to minimize my brain’s reaction to the pain in my hands which, along with Velcro finger braces, allows me to write an hour or two a day.
Andrews suggested, “Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for your having been there.” I love this quote. As long as I don't put too much pressure on myself when I go somewhere and remember to leave things at least no worse than I found them.
Following her own advice, Andrews is involved with Alzheimer's disease, gender equality, health, homelessness, LGBTQ+ issues, and veteran support. In response to her concern about the impact of children being forced to be at home during the pandemic, Andrews and her daughter recently started a podcast, Julie’s Library, where Andrews reads children’s books.
About the pandemic, Andrews said, “I feel a very big similarity to the feelings one had then [as a child in World War II] to the feelings one has now. Then, I was very concerned and worried and frightened and anxious, and one didn’t know where the next wave [of bombers] would come.” She continued: “But one thing I did recognize as a child was the amount of bonding that happened in England because of the war, and I feel the same feelings in America here at this moment.”
I agree with her and suspect that in the future our children and grandchildren will feel the same way about these difficult times they are facing. Which makes it even more important that, for their sake and our own, we consistently chant and do our best to embody this encouragement from Ikeda Sensei:
"Though the times may be rifer with petty human conflicts, a pervading sense of hopelessness and all manner of turbulent storms, I hope that all of you will forge ahead boldly with unflagging good cheers."
Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!
Next week: A Great Mender & the Coronavirus
