Sùil Air Adhart - Looking Forward

Sùil Air Adhart

Ghabh mi cuairt o chionn ghoirid, ’s mi a’ beachdachadh air an àm ri teachd – mo smuaintean a’ falbh eadar dè a tha romhainn sa bhliadhna 2020 ’s nas fhaide air adhart agus dè a bhios ag atharrachadh dhuinn’ – cho fada ’s a chì sinn. Cuspair gu math leathann, farsaing, inntinneach.

Gu cinnteach, tha tionndaidhean ùra mar coinneamh mar dhùthaich, mar rìoghachd – nithean a bha aig aon àm cho cunbhalach ri plosgadh cridhe rèidh ’s a tha a-nis bun-os-cionn, an snaidhm air ceann an t-snàithlein air fuasgladh, gun chothrom a cheangal air ais mar a bha o thùs.

Cho ùr ’s a tha Brfhàgail, tha sinn’ ann an staid a tha caran cugallach. Air dhuinn bliadhnaichean a chaitheamh a strì mu thimcheall Breatamach, tha sin a-nis air ar cùlaibh. Abair cath a lean ùine... an iomairt Fàgamaid a’ coiteachadh airson Sasamach agus an iomairt Fuiricheamaid a’ strì gu daingeann na aghaidh. Mar thoradh, tha còmhraidhean agus strì air togail ceann a-rithist a thaobh an dara reifreann mar dhòigh air briseadh air falbh bhon Rìoghachd Aonaichte. Chaidh Achd Reifreann Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba a’ stèidheachadh ann an 2013 ach, anns na taghaidhean a lean ann an 2014, cha d’ fhuaras bhòtaichean gu leòr airson neo-eisimeileachd – ged nach robh na h-àireamhan ro fhada bho chèile. A’ coimhead air adhart, saoil am bi reifreann ùr ann? Ma bhitheas... dè an toradh ’s a’ bhuil a bhios ann airson Alba? ’S e tìde a dh’innseas! An dràsta fhèin, tha Prìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba (ceannard a’ Phàrtaidh Nàiseanta) a’ sireadh an dara reifreann – ’s na h-aghaidh, tha Prìomh Mhinistear na Rìoghachd Aonaichte a’ diùltadh. Chan e gu bheil Alba mar aon a’ seasamh còmhla rithe... buidheann le miann briseadh air falbh – buidheann a’ miannachadh aonachd.

Air dhomh an earrainn seo a thoirt gu crìch, ’s mi air snìomh ri chèile faclan neo-àbhaisteach, tha e a’ bualadh orm gu làidir gur e gnàthasan-cainnte ùr-nòsach a tha mi a’ cleachdadh a-nis. Nach iongantach mar a ghluaiseas cànan ann an leudachd agus farsaingeachd airson briathran ’s abairtean gu tur às ùr a chruthachadh co-cheangailte ri staid chaochlaideach an t-saoghail. San àm ri teachd, an dùil nach bi faclan às ùr againn nach eil againn an-dràsta? Saoilidh mi gu bheil sin gun cheist.

A’ toirt sùil air ais air a’ chuairt ud air na thog mi dealbh aig toiseach a phìos sgrìobhaidh seo, tha mi nam shuidhe air gainmheach ghlan, gheal, ’s a’ togail cnap nam làimh, mar shìoda grinn. Tha mi mothachail gu bheil gach gràinnean a’ dòrtadh trom mheòirean gu luath – a’ cur nam chuimhne mar a tha an saoghal fhèin a’ sìoladh às le cabhaig. Tha mi a’ faicinn fada bhuam na creagan air taobh thall na tràghad. Nas fhaisge, tha mo shùilean a’ toirt a-steach na sualaichean a’ briseadh air a’ chladach – na h-eich bhàna neo-thròcaireach a’ dèanamh air druim na tràghad mar airm aonaichte, neo-gheamanta. Os mo chionn, tha mo chluasan a’ tighinn beò ri ceòl na h-eòin mara – an t-uabhas dhiubh, ’s iad ag èirigh ’s a’ tuiteam air osag ghaoithe. Fada a-mach, tha na sùlairean a’ bualadh air a mhuir ’s a’ togail ceist eile nam inntinn... an dùil am bi na Nisich a’ dol a Shùlaisgeir gu bràth tuilleadh? Às bith am bi no nach bi, tha aon nì gu cinnteach – às bith dè a tha romhainn – seasaidh creagan, tràigh, fairge, tonnan, gainmheach, eòin agus gach gnè de nàdar buan, cho maireann ris a’ ghrèin. San àm ri teachd, cha tig atharrachadh air na nithean sin a tha nam lèirsinn – ged a thig tionndadh air iomadach nì eile.

Le sùil air adhart, ’s e prosbaig gu math mì-shoilleir, eu-cinnteach a tha toirt dhuinn beachd air dè a dh’fhaodadh nochdadh san àm ri teachd. Chan eil e furasta idir corrag a chur gu misneachail aon taobh no taobh eile – a-màireach a bha mì-chinnteach nuair a b’ fheàrr e gar cumail fo smachd ’s a’ diùltadh stiùir no comhair a thoirt dhuinn. Leis mar a tha an saoghal a’ dol, saoilidh sinn nach tig deireadh air a’ bhochdainn, air tinneas, cogadh, aimhreit no air na mòr-thubaistean de gach seòrs’ a tha gar cuairteachadh aig an àm. Dhuinn uile, mar dhaoine beò sa bhliadhna 2020, tha ceistean leatromach mun cuairt a tha gun fuasgladh... làn-bhuil blàthachadh na cruinne, tanachadh filleadh òsoin, an astar aig a bheil cip-dheighe a leaghadh, mar a tha teinntean gun chrìoch a’ slugadh suas Coille-uisge an Amasoin, ‘sgamhain an t-saoghail’. ’S chan eil an sin ach beagan eisimpleirean à duilgheadasan gun àireamh. An dùil an tig piseach air na suidheachaidhean sin – gu h-àraid nuair a tha uiread thar ar smachd?

Ach, chan fheum sinn’ a bhith dubhach! Tha uimhir mun cuairt a tha brosnachail, gealltanach, dòchasach a thaobh na dh’ fhaodar siubhal maille rinn gus an àm ri teachd.

Chuala mi o chionn ghoirid, fear a’ dèanamh òraid aig na ‘Osgaran’ agus abair thusa gun tug na briathran aige togail dhomh. Fhad ’s a bha e a’ còmhradh, bhuail e orm gun robh làn-thuigse aige air na nithean a tha luachmhor an-dràsta fhèin - ’s a bhios luachmhor a’ gluasad air adhart. An ann air beartas a bha e a’ bruidhinn? No iomraiteachd? An e àrd-chliù, no soirbheas? ’S dòcha fèillmhorachd no moit? Dh’ fhaodadh e a bhith air an cothrom sin a ghabhail ach ghabh esan slighe eile – amasan gu math nas prìseile aige san amhairc – neamhnaidean airidh air an roinn a-mach. Ghlac e an cothrom airson an sgaoileadh nar measg uile, seudan ris am bu chòir dhuinne greimeachadh le gach lùths, nithean a tha uasal, ionmholta, brosnachail. Dh’ainmich esan ceartas, còraichean, co-ionnanachd, gràdh, truas, neo-fhèinealachd, maitheanas, taic, foghlam, treòrachadh, an dara cothrom, saorsa, teasairginn, sìth. Cò nach iarradh gum biodh na luachan sin againn uile leis gach ceum a nì sinn mu choinneamh an t-àm ri teachd. Deagh-mhisneachail, a’ glèidheadh dòigh-smuaineachadh deimhinneach, nach gabh sinn ceum làidir, dòchasach air adhart, còmhla.

Cha robh latha gun dà latha – an saoghal buailteach do chaochladh, le atharrachadh de gach seòrs san t-sealladh ach a dh’ aindeoin sin, faodaidh sinn làrach-coise do-àicheadh fhàgail aig an àl ri teachd mar shamhla air na nithean a mhaireas nuair a thèid gach nì eile a’ sguabadh air falbh.

Looking Forward

A short while ago I went for a walk, and I thought about the future – my thoughts ranging from what lies ahead in 2020 to further ahead and what will change for us – as far as we can see. A broad, deep subject, and an interesting one.

There are certainly new things in store for us as a country, as a kingdom – things that were once as regular as a steady heartbeat are now turned upside down, the knot that held the threads together undone, with no chance of tying it together as it once was.

Brexit is the new reality, but it leaves us in an uncertain state. We have spent years campaigning about whether Britain should leave, and we had another long battle before that… the Leave campaign lobbying to separate from the UK and the Remain campaign fighting relentlessly against it. As a result, the discussions and campaigns are now raising their heads again in a debate about a second referendum as a way of breaking away from the United Kingdom. The Scottish Referendum Act was passed in 2013, but in the votes that followed not enough ballots were cast to achieve independence – although the numbers were close. Looking ahead, is it likely there will be a new referendum? If there is… what result and what impact will it have on Scotland? Only time will tell! Right now, the First Minister of Scotland (head of the Scottish National Party) is calling for a second referendum – and opposing her is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who will not allow it. It’s not as if Scotland is standing together united… one group wants to break away – one group wants union.

Writing that passage involved weaving together some unusual words, and it strikes me that I’m using newly coined phrases now. Language shifts in surprising ways, expanding to include brand new words and phrases to describe our changing world. In future, will there be new words we don’t have right now? I think that is beyond question.

Looking back to that walk that I mentioned at the start of this article, I’m standing on a clean, white beach, lifting a handful of sand, like fine silk. I notice how each grain of sand runs quickly through my fingers – reminding me how swiftly the world turns. In the distance, I see the cliffs at the other end of the beach. Closer to me, I take in the waves breaking on the beach – the restless white horses galloping towards the shoreline like an army marching single-mindedly. Above me, my ears are assailed by the music of the seabirds – multitudes of them, rising and falling on the breeze. Far out, the gannets are diving into the sea, prompting me to wonder… will the men of Ness ever go to Sula Sgeir again? Whether they will or won’t, one thing is certain – whatever lies ahead of us – the cliffs, beach, ocean, waves, sand, birds and nature in all its forms will endure, as eternal as the sun.

In future, those things that I can see now will not change – though many other things may be transformed.

Looking forward, it is through an unclear and unreliable lens that we look to form our views on what might appear in future. It is by no means easy to put one’s finger on something with confidence and make a prediction – the uncertainty of tomorrow constrains us, refusing to help or guide us. The way the world is going, we cannot see an end to poverty, sickness, war, discord or the great calamities of all kinds that surround us at this time. For all of us who are alive in 2020, there are weighty questions with no apparent answers… the full impact of global warning; the thinning of the ozone layer, the speed with which the ice caps are melting, how wildfires are engulfing the Amazonian rainforests, ‘the lungs of the world’. And those are only a few of the innumerable examples. Can we expect to see any improvement in this situation – especially when so much is beyond our control?

But we shouldn’t be despondent! There is so much happening that is encouraging, promising and hopeful for us to take forward into the future.

A short while ago I heard a man making a speech at the Oscars, and I must say his words made an impression on me. As he was talking, it struck me that he fully understood what is really important right now – and what will be important as we move forward. Was he talking about wealth? Or celebrity? Or fame, or success? He could have taken the opportunity to talk about those things, but he took a different direction – he had far more precious ambitions in mind – offering up pearls of wisdom. He seized the opportunity to scatter them in our midst, jewels that we should try to grab with all our might, things that are noble, laudable, encouraging. He spoke of justice, rights, equality, love, compassion, selflessness, forgiveness, support, education, leadership, second chances, freedom, relief, peace. Who would not want to be mindful of those virtues with every step we take into the future! Confident, maintaining a positive frame of mind, let us take each strong, hopeful step forward, together.

There was never a day without its setbacks – the world is liable to be unreliable, with all kinds of change happening even as we look, but despite that we can leave clear footprints for the coming generations to follow, as an example of the things that endure when everything else is swept away.