Spring's Beauty in the Midst of Crisis

A Blessing

“...You have traveled too fast over false ground

Now your soul has come to take you back.

Take refuge in your senses, open up

To all the small miracles you rushed through.

Become inclined to watch the way of rain

When it falls slow and free...”

John O'Donohue (excerpt from “For One Who Is Exhausted, A Blessing; On Being Blog; Krista Tippett; Dec. 22, 2017)

          We, here in the deep South, are enjoying beautiful spring weather. Cool mornings and warm afternoons with plenty of sunshine. We are outside as much as possible soaking it in because we know it is a brief interlude between winter and the hellfire and brimstone that calls itself summer here. Spring is sometimes only a matter of days long, so we take full advantage.

          Now, with the coronavirus keeping most people home, the walkers are out. I’m going to one of our preserves to walk this morning—early so as to be observant of social distancing. I can’t encourage you enough to enjoy beauty as much as possible during this ordeal, even if you only see it on your computer. Beauty raises our spirits and gives us a rush of pleasurable brain chemistry to boost our mood. It has the added advantage of causing us to pause long enough to actually see creation instead of rushing through it to the next thing on our list of obligations. It is my hope that this enforced retreat will help us to slow down, realize what we’re missing with our hectic lives, and decide to do it differently from now on.

          John O'Donohue's beautiful poem of blessing, encourages us to rest and take in the natural world through our senses. It says:

“...Draw alongside the silence of stone

Until its calmness can claim you.

Be excessively gentle with yourself...”

          While we who are not on the front lines of this pandemic have an opportunity, let’s gather some silence around us and allow peace to settle in. Rest.

“...Gradually, you will return to yourself

Having learned a new respect for your heart

And the joy that dwells far within slow time.”

          Realize that we are privileged to do that while others are working tirelessly with the sick and dying. Let us, then, send our prayers and energetic encouragement to our doctors and nurses and all our hospital workers who are the eyes, and hands, and feet of caregiving in this crisis. I know they are exhausted, depleted, and so, so sad. Send them as much love and appreciation as you can muster.



                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                  Jane