"The Earth is what we all have in common." ~ Wendell Berry
I love the warmth and brightness of sunny days, but I've always enjoyed the silence that comes when the rain starts to fall.
Creatures withdraw into the warmth and dryness of shelters and living spaces. Outdoor work and routines are reconsidered and sometimes interrupted. The world, at least as far as the rain clouds reach, calms down.
In a way, these current moments in our world feel like one giant rainstorm – one that spans the entire planet instead of just a few miles. And while there are moments that feel scary when we're all navigating uncertainty and new territory, there are others where glimmers of hope and magic emerge.
Among the many contributions on ways we can take all measures to ensure the safety of our families and communities, there are also statistics on reducing gases in terms of energy and traffic, as well as photos of things like clearer canal water and Satellite images showing a dramatic decrease in pollution.
While we are all taking a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily routine – with all of our consumer-oriented methods in tow – the Earth may have time and space to step back a little and find a better balance to help heal.
Maybe we have time and space to think more about the things we want and need and how our lives and daily activities and patterns affect the world around us.
Perhaps the waterways and the air will continue to be cleaner and clearer.
Maybe the dolphins are getting closer.
Perhaps the level of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide will decrease further.
Perhaps the earth will surprise us with the way it is able to make rapid changes in just a short pause in the production of our everyday industry and pollution.
And maybe we will notice all of these changes and they will inspire us to make our own.
Patience. Friendliness. Compassion. Love.
These are qualities of action and being that will help us and the people around us to move smoothly through and around it. These are also properties of action and being that we can extend to our planet every day beyond this certain period of time – this also moves smoothly through and around this (and us).
Keeping these traits in the foreground while interacting with others may seem like you're really listening as others express their concerns or struggles. It might look like you are reporting to older neighbors to see if they need anything before going to the store, taking the time to get in touch with friends and family more often via the online world, or making phone calls kicking, or just getting creative with how we connect.
And keeping an eye on these traits as we interact with and for our planet might look like we are resourceful long after the end of this unusual experience – really thinking about what we buy, if we do these things really need and how long you will take before finding a place at a nearby landfill.
It might look as if we continue to plan our trips better so that we drive less – or create more gardens so that we are less dependent on transported, packaged foods.
It might look like we share resources with our neighbors … and do everything we can to live in a way that is less about short-term desires and more about what is good for the general well-being of this world, that we all become part of.
When you sit quietly outside, it feels like the wind is whispering: "Do you see that?" And I answer wordlessly: "Yes, it is as if the whole world is awake and sleeping at the same time – as if we are all suddenly paying more attention and are in the process of resting and sitting back a bit, also in a way."
It is surreal and strangely beautiful.
See typing errors or inaccuracies? Please contact us so we can fix the problem!
