Breaking Words

CURATED CURIOSITIES

I heard the crunch and I cringed. An unexpected sound when you’re pulling out of the driveway at 3AM in the morning is seldom a good thing. I got out of the car, only to find my daughter’s mangled bike. No bueno! 🙃 Granted, the bike was in my blind spot, and yes, she left it in the middle of the driveway overnight…But clearly I was the one who broke it. She’s now zipping around on my bike! 🫠 

Alex Geller heard a different sort of breaking at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel last week. His 4-year old grandson accidentally shattered a 3500 year old Bronze Age jar!

The jar, used in Biblical times to store wine and olive oil, was displayed without a protective covering. The little boy was curious about what was inside, and the rest is history.

Museum director, Inbal Rivlin, was actually really cool about the entire mishap. He explained that the museum is a living place, open to exploration. The jar will be restored, piece by piece, and placed back on display with an explanation of the process.

A glacier recently broke off the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antartica. It’s yet another warning of an impending sea level rise of up to 7 feet. The Thwaites Glacier is as big as the state of Florida and almost a mile thick. Warm waters from a massive underwater current are weakening its base.

Now scientists are furiously working on a geo-engineering fix. A giant submarine curtain could seal off the glacier from the warm waters of the current. An alternative plan would constantly inject bubbles of cold air into surrounding waters.

Restoration of things broken requires hope and imagination. Humanity finds itself in a quest for restoration on all levels. The will has to ignite the process.