Embrace the Earth

The earth is crying out for us to listen, to pause, to heal. We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has left us feeling powerless; a virus has unleashed itself on the world, as if the earth sees us as the enemy and is fighting back in defense. We are forced to retreat to our homes, like turtles in their shells, trying to protect those we love, feeling isolated and perhaps alone and afraid. The very fabric of our society has been torn away and we grapple with our worries, our fears, those demons that we have been afraid to face, and the uncertainties and very real threats that lurk outside of our doors.

This moment can bring out the best in us or it can bring out the worst in us, a thought that echoes the opening words of Charles Dickens in the novel A Tale of Two Cities:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair..."

My daughter and I went for a walk in the park the other day, in the middle of a weekday afternoon, where we saw entire families walking together, and solitary people sitting on benches meditating, reading, or listening to music.

On social media, people share that they are baking, cooking, playing music, praying and finding authentic, experiential ways to school their children while working from home. We are using technology to our advantage, finding ways to connect virtually through Facetime and Zoom. This crisis is forcing us to engage mentally and spiritually rather than physically, in short to evolve to something higher.

The reality that we live in an interconnected world is starkly evident in the way the virus has spread.  This moment calls for world unity, a coming together of all faiths and creeds.  We are powerful spiritual beings who can meet this challenge.

 Many of us will eventually become ill with this virus; thankfully most of us will recover. We will be stronger, physically immune to its threat. Our economy will recover in time as well, although no doubt the world will be forever changed. What we do while in the midst of this will determine whether we become spiritually stronger through the experience.

This is a time to focus on the moment, be thankful for what is, listen to the earth's cry for healing and trust that in time, all will be well.
This Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 pm, your local time, the World Wildlife Fund has called for an "Earth Hour", an hour when "millions of people around the world will turn off lights for one hour to show their steadfast commitment to protecting nature...to show support for wildlife and forests, rivers and oceans, to rally around crucial actions needed to curb climate change". The earth will be bathed in an all-night vigil, as different time zones join throughout the world.

Please join me in lighting a candle and praying for the healing of the planet at this time.