The Threat of War
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, he ain’t heavy.
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, he ain’t heavy.
This song was released in 1969, during the bloody Vietnam War
It tells a story that touched my heart; yet it never meant as much to me as when I read it again recently.
L’histoire se repète. As I am writing this, Russia is threatening to impose war on Ukraine. The list of wars between 1945, when WWII had just ended, and 1989 is staggering. “War” is just a word, but the human suffering caused by it is heartbreaking. The bond of love between two soldiers expressed in this song is heartwarming. And again, in the Senior Community where we live, l’histoire se repète. When I look around, I see similar bonds of love. One of two people is old, yet fit to a certain extent. The other is old and totally helpless. Together though, they make it another day, and another week, perhaps longer. The excruciating load of caregiving on the endless “road to there” is only made light because of “the gladness of love for one another.” It’s heartwarming.
As a little girl, I lived through the Second World War. I don’t have many memories of that time. But reading again the words of my mother, words she wrote eighty years ago in her secret journal, which I take off the shelf once in a while, I realize the heavy burden she carried; the suffering, the diseases, the hunger and the despair. But she persisted. With a mother’s love for her little girls she brought us through hell and gave us a second chance on life. And what a wonderful life I have had and am still enjoying! I will be forever thankful.
A Promise of Spring
On my walk in Wimbledon Thursday morning, I saw a cherry tree in bloom! Because of the wonderful warm weather – in the high sixties – with dips of temperatures in the low forties, we won’t have to wait long for winter to be over. This winter wasn’t bad at all! Another thing to be thankful for.
May your days be peaceful and happy
Until next time
Ronny