"Isn’t what we call beauty in fact essentially grace? Grace – so different in a tiger or gazelle – is born through precisely perceiving one’s own self and the surrounding world, through correctly evaluating one’s chances and using them to the full. Grace can only increase by way of precision, unlike strength, which can increase endlessly. Grace is strength with intelligence, the skill of managing with very little, the capacity to recognise the necessary, and the courage to give up the excessive. Grace is born from trust – and there are many possibilities there too. A child trusts naturally, because he has not experienced disappointment. A pilot trusts, on the other hand, because of experience, being in control. A lover trusts – believes, hopes and loves – despite everything, risking all. Love blinds fear, as fear can blind love – these two exclude each other. The trust of a lover - opening up in all one’s vulnerability - is the greatest expression of humanity; this is what constitutes the supreme grace - the perception of one’s place in the world, one’s fragility and fortuity - and readiness to act despite that, the ultimate devotion and creativity."
This is my small tribute to my home-country. I realised today that I haven't been able to post so many of my favourites here, mainly cause there is almost nothing translated to English. The excerpt is from the poet Doris Kareva's article in Estonian Literary Magazine called "A Lesson of Harmony" and the music is "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt, an Estonian modern classical composer. And even though I have always been a great fan of poetry and literature today I also realised that it is music which allows for true unity of all nationalities. Languages always separate us but music always brings us back together. Music is indeed humanity's greatest creative wealth. May it be a source of Grace and Love between us all!
