Do you like to dive headlong into the future? Or do you prefer to stay rooted in the past? How does your present moment fit into the timeline?

You’ve probably heard the old saw about how ‘the more things change, the more things stay the same’. With less than a century of perspective allotted to us, who are we to talk about permanence!

Under the shifting sands of society lie a foundation of history, nature, and the earth itself. Trends, fashion, and politics all blow over the surface like the wind.

No sooner than we settle in to one form or another, the winds of change can reverse course. When the clouds part, averting a storm on the horizon, we breathe a collective sigh of relief.

When it comes to the big dance of building a better world for all, the work is never done. Each step forward is a milestone to celebrate, another brick to build upon.

For Americans, dynamic change has always been the name of the game. I grew up taking the dynamism of America for granted. Anything older than 50 years was ripe for being torn down and replaced with something bigger, better, more ‘up to date’.

The pace is different when the history runs deeper. Be it agriculture, artisan techniques, indigenous practices, or dance lineages — it’s not ‘out with the old, in with the new’ — but rather making the most of it while you have the privilege of stewardship.

We spent a day this week admiring the Tolkien collection of Aubusson tapestries in the Musée d’Angers. The fact that large narrative tapestries such as these are still being made by hand as they were in the Middle Ages is amazing. Each requires a large team of experts and up to a year of work.

The setting itself was worth the trip. The vast Musée was once a gothic hospital built around 1180, having seen its share of upheavals since King Henry II of England ruled much of France. It’s had a series of caretakers going way back — the foundation dedicated to its preservation celebrated their tricentennial in the mid-1800s.

Chatting with an older docent and some younger staffers got me thinking about folks who take care of something with such a vast timeline. It’s not about starting from scratch, but rather talking one’s turn.

Dance is like that.

Whatever form or modality you find yourself in has roots in an ancient lineage and tendrils that wind around an unknown future.

Like ancient architecture or a traditional craft, its essence will weather the winds of change and yet remain solid within the context of the current moment.

So go ahead. Polish it up, repair the cracks, and add your special flavor of positive energy. It’s your turn with the torch, so light it up!

Taking care till next week 😉

M+

ML #705

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar