Noli timere - Don't be afraid

I mentioned a couple of days ago that the great Irish poet, Seamus Heaney, had died.  His last words were "Noli timere" which is Latin for "Don't be afraid".  When he won the Nobel prize, he said, "walk on air, against your better judgement".  I think both quotes urge us to do the same thing.  Don't be crippled by fear.  Try new things.  Live life fully.

Michael Enright, who is a commentator on the CBC, wrote about Seamus Heaney's life and philosophy  this week and he says "our poets don't change the world, but instead change the way we look at it".  That's the role of all artists, including those of us who are involved in the theatre.  He says we live in a culture of fear -- fear of the future, of unseen dangers, of failure -- but Seamus Heaney advised us to turn our backs on fear and choose hope instead.

Here's a brief passage from Heaney's "The Cure at Troy":

History says, don't hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up,
And hope and history rhyme.

Live your life this weekend.  Get off the computer and get outside.  Listen to the birds.  Think about how lucky you are.  Noli timere!