Hello friend,
The 19th of August is a day I’d like to remember. As I now recall it, the day seemed to be segmented neatly into 3 distinct domains of my life:
My physical health, spiritual community, and a career opportunity.
It started with a visit to the physiotherapist. As much as my reconstructed knee has been healing, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how stiff it’s gotten. The stiffness, in a way, is a testament to my physical ailment. I’m rather immobile now, you see, and as I wrote this, I couldn't help but realise how I sorely miss running. And cycling. The road bike that hangs on my wall is a daily reminder of what is to come. It gives me something to look forward to. And I’m hopeful because I am confident it will come. I am confident I will heal.
Later, in the early afternoon, I was visited by a pastor and a counselor from my church. I had never been the subject of a visit before, despite my familiarity with my father’s work as pastor. As it turns out, it proved to be a tangible source of comfort. Sharing my present discouragement with a listenning ear was cathartic in a way. I spoke about my work, and how I believed sustainability was the future. I recollected how I had fallen, noting how my body was not as nimble as I percieved. They laughed when I mentioned that.
“The body ages faster than the mind”, my pastor remarked. I’ve found that to be true. I’m still two years shy of my thirtieth birthday, but my knee is already a reminder of how my body is in decay. My best years, of course, are not behind me. But life here isn’t permanent. I don’t believe it was meant to be.
Still, I took comfort in the visitation because I’ve now been a part of the system. The system that I profess so much to believe in. And how amazing is it, that these systems are so deeply interconnected? Humanity is a large breathing, living thing because it’s made of humans. In a perfect system, we would live in perfect harmony. Systems that account for breathing humans within the system — not just for their physical bodies but for their souls, too.
I’ve connected some dots along my journey. The hospital has met the need of my torn ACL because of science. I acted on the doctors recommendation for surgery because I believed in the science, and I wanted restoration. Will I ever return to my former agility? Probably not. But trusting in medical science has offered me the next best thing.
In the same way, environmental scientific reports — like the latest report from the IPCC — meets our need for “evidence”. It's the not the first diagnosis, and it certainly won't be the last. I think the report makes the current condition of Earth's health very clear: human activity is the primary reason for climate change and the current environmental woes we’re facing today. There are both bad and good pieces of news. Much like my knee, the bad news is that it’s unlikely that we’ll return to temperatures of the past. Climate change is happening now, albeit disproportionately: my heart really breaks for the marginalised and the poor.
But there’s hope. The good news is that it’s not too late to act. We can still make a huge difference in the outcome of this story if we begin today. Which ties into a final piece of news that has lifted my spirits of entering the climate space.
The last highlight of the 19th of August was an interview with a carbon consulting firm that I’d very much like to work for. I’d like to think that the interview went well; the hiring managers were pleasant, and I had a good time learning about what carbon consulting will look like in South East Asia over the next decade to come. As the interview wrapped up, a note I had made to myself nearly 3 weeks ago came to mind:
I always feel deeply about life whenever I re-read these small notes I’ve made.
I hope it edifies you too.
Have a blessed week!
Love,
Daniel