Helicopters and Drums
Listening for Doves
Dear friend,
How long a helicopter can hover between refuelling doesn’t matter so much when they’re flying in relay.
I mention it because Tottenham Hotspur fans are celebrating the team’s Europa League win.
Since the early afternoon, several have been hovering overhead.
There’s the sound of drums and chanting and songs being sung,
and drones taking shots of the crowd that I saw on a tiny screen in the corner shop.
I went there to buy some crisps to have with a cup of tea.
Just to ground myself.
It never fails.
I’m still resting my foot.
There’s no discomfort,
but I’m realising the surgery was more involved than I first imagined.
My toes are bruised with intense purple-blue patches—
where I guess someone held them while the surgeon did their job.
I tried going for a walk and it felt fine,
but then I wondered if it might be best to sit and rest it a while.
I found a wooden bench near a spiral in the ground,
built out of brick and cement,
and Chiara went on into the wild west marsh.
I could see four jet planes and three helicopters—
one so loud that when I closed my eyes and meditated on the sound,
it felt like the helicopter’s blades were opening up a space in the sky,
a portal of sorts.
Underneath, you could still hear the songbirds weaving their melodies
as the grasses shone in the evening sun.
On opening my eyes I saw a magpie
hopping around after food in the lush green grass,
and a hedgehog behind it,
near the skirts of the low wood at the edges of the park.
It was moving at a pace, in and out of the long grasses.
The sight of it transported me back to the Lake District
and the hedgehogs that roamed our back gardens—
including the one Dad found and nursed back to health in the shed.
Magic everywhere.
In everything.
I’ve had the luxury today to wonder—
how will it be as humanity transitions
from global competition to global co-operation and collaboration?
It’s a trajectory we’re on.
I’m sure of it—
though not how long, or when.
Only certain that it will be so.
If you look seven generations into the future,
with so many brilliant, lovely, loving, brave, good-hearted people coming together—
the future is golden for humanity.
Which doesn’t mean we should be foolish or complacent.
The networks are buzzing with darker visions—
but I refuse them the power of my imagining.
The change from competition to collaboration
involves all of us thinking more about quality of life,
and less about “Did I win?” or “Am I good enough?”
From separation consciousness
to unity.
So yes.
Huge changes are afoot.
Boom boom (sorry for the pun!)
Thankfully the helicopters have gone home.
You can still hear the people singing.
And I was listening for the doves.
Till tomorrow
Love
Mikey
