Celebrating Opposites

The clock on the microwave pronounced the time as shortly after 7:00 a.m. but then, maybe having something to do with a bishop husband getting his coffee before he headed out the door, when I looked again, after just dozing maybe a half hour more on the downstairs couch near the dog who hadn’t made it upstairs last night, that same clock said 8:30. Oh! Definitely time to get going now, into a much brighter weather day than yesterday.

Around here anyway, there are no pink blossoms to be seen outside anywhere (as a now deceased friend used to say when I asked if her family members were helping with the chores, “Oh, tell me another joke!”) but that’s OK. The new blanket of snow is lovely, with curved furrows from the wind, and sky is a clear blue. We know the flowers will come.

Push Ahead And Maybe Eventually Get Back, Too

I’m setting out to celebrate opposites, so, leaving out the “fall” shall we start with “backward” — also sometimes known as “backwards”? That’s a tough one, because it’s common knowledge that generally this word is used pejoratively, as in describing someone not keeping up with the times, out of step, wanting to erase progress in some way. Or (and I bet most of us have experienced this) there’s the danger of, in our individual minds, going back over the past, regretting things, wanting to re-write a history that cannot be changed. “Move on!” we’re told, or tell ourselves. Re-visiting happy times is fine, and memories can be treasures, but the fact is, “Go forward!” is generally a healthier and more practical choice than, “Go back!” Wasn’t that the advice that Dorothy saw on a sign on the way to try to capture the broom? Or am I conflating it with the more famous, “Surrender, Dorothy!” Then again, her final achievement was in fact going back, returning home to Kansas, so it’s complicated.

Looking at this picture, you have to wonder how did Dorothy possibly walk all that way in those ridiculous shoes? Try going even from my garage to the wood pile in those!

Moving on to other opposites, let’s now turn to a couple of “F” words.

Before you get worried, let me reassure you that I’m not about to do any swearing, but still, the two adjectives I’m about to present are not ones that have described conventional clergy wives — although that group probably doesn’t even exist anymore, if it ever really did.

One Excellent Quality Along With Its Complement

Some of you may have heard that I was a contributor to a recent project with the words “Fast” and “Fierce” in the title. The background color on the cover of this volume is almost exactly the same as the shade of blue in the sky today; with a whole lot of women in a variety of outfits floating around.

I’m very proud to be part of this collection, and will happily accept being associated with both of these words, too. At the same time, enjoying the concept of opposites as I do (especially when distinct differences live in close proximity), I want to just give a nod to the other sides, as it were.

First, let’s take “fast.” Consider it in this example of a magnificent creature.

Here’s a leopard, all stretched out with every limb working, intent on a goal. I don’t think I need to convince you that this captures the beauty that sheer speed portrays — male or female.

On the other hand, a snail’s pace can be absolutely perfect, in its own way. And I know you’ll agree that many of the finer things in life happen s l o w l y, unfolding or maturing gradually over time.

Moving on to the second adjective, there is no mistaking the power of a creature who is “fierce.” And, let’s face it, sometimes coming face to face with ferocity is not exactly uplifting.

This of course is a male lion, but lionesses surely must know how to look scary and to protect what’s dear to them, too. You’ve got to admire their willingness to stand their ground. Right now, just about the whole world is amazed by the courage and tenacity of the Ukrainian people; “fierce” might not be the first word we would use to describe them, especially because they are in no way the aggressors, but their fierceness is definitely helping them to survive, with resolve.

And then there’s gentleness, an inclination not to fight but to bring calmness, harmony.

Have you seen anything sweeter all day than this? Look how safe that bird looks, feeling no threat at all from the enormous creature providing a perch and fascinated by a being so different from itself.

It’s Not Neat, But It’s Fruitful

So now we have a big, happy family: forward and backward; fast and slow; fierce and gentle. Will there be conflicts? You bet. But therein lies the richness. And the thing is, each of these pairs don’t really even represent a firm, hands-on-hip kind of opposition: one can melt into the other, and the merging brings forth exciting new creations.