While quarantined humans are panicking, I have a feeling nature is saying, “wow, we feel so good.”
Today my 16-year-old daughter asked me if I thought the world was ending. A friend of hers posted something from Revelations about the “end of times.” I replied, “no, I don’t think the world is ending. I think humans and nature are getting a chance to reboot themselves. To breath a little deeper, love a little harder, slow down and glide like the birds in the air.”
“Oh. That makes sense,” she said
I gave her a challenge that I also give to you. Take a moment each day to notice one thing about the world around you. If we pay attention, the Corona pandemic will open our eyes to aspects of life that are out of balance. Habits that don’t serve us or ways of living that weigh us down. Are we living a good and meaningful life?
I took my advice. Sitting outside in stillness, I noticed a bird picking berries from our palm tree. My husband and I always clip the berries as soon as they start to sprout because they make our deck dirty. We throw them in the trash. That’s the birds’ food we have taken away. I never looked at it that way. I’m glad we missed the berries. By the next day, the stalk was gleaned for us. I googled birds and palm tree berries. I learned the birds pick the delicious meat from the berry, drop the seeds in the dirt, and another palm grows to replenish the earth.
Nature. It’s all connected. We need each other.
I know humans are suffering. But I feel like nature has erupted into a rejoicing choir.
I live on a small island in Georgia named Tybee Island. Tybee is the Euchee Native American word for Salt. The beaches here closed, but the streets are still wide open to roam. Free of cars for the most part. Walking around the island, you can hear nature. The birds are louder and busier than I have ever seen them.
Tybee is suddenly more beautiful. The unstructured mess of the trees, houses, and people are a welcomed sight.
New leaf buds boast a neon green. The sassy flowers taunt the bees. The breeze flits freed from man’s clutches. Sunshine on my face is calming.
Nature rejoices at the momentary pause from the constant groaning humans put it through.
A Reboot
Life is beautiful yet eggshell fragile. People are hurting. People are scared. It’s not just Americans. It’s the entire globe. Check on your neighbor. Drop off a roll of toilet paper. Forgive your brother. Tell your father you love him. Get to know your children. Drop the ego. Serve others.
With death, suffering, anger, and unexpected endings all around us notice just for today what is good.
Humanity. It’s all connected. We need each other.
