In a time when uncertainty rules the world, one thing is certain, and that is this: we are all in a time of transition. Some people wear masks. Some don't. There have been job losses, sicknesses, deaths, money problems, family problems, family reunions. A friend takes up woodworking. A girl stages a socially distant concert for her neighborhood. A woman takes a picture of the meal she created -- shrimp and pasta, it seems. Another adopts a dog. People wear gloves. Others don't. Some rant about Trump. Others make fun of Biden. One man loses his life because he decides to simply head out for a morning jog. School lunches are the only food some kids have, and suddenly, those are gone. No one can work out, eat out, see a show, have a graduation, play basketball, see a movie at the theater, and on and on. Yes, and the lack of haircuts. Online orders slow down, lagging months behind. When they do drive, people run red lights and stop at green ones. Hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and gloves become nearly impossible to find at times. Families join together, and in turn, domestic violence and child abuse go unreported. And there is a terrible illness among us. But...those with other illnesses cannot get care. The isolation runs rampant. Suicide rates climb. And then this happens...
My friend G. shares a picture of the sunset. My friend D. plays a beautiful piano number. Musicians post song after song. Comedians perform on Zoom. I spend day after day walking with my sister, and I get a chance to know her more and more. Today, I saw a luna moth. So rare. Did you know they only live for a week?
One week.
See, when life becomes more fragile, everything around us begins to turn precious. Perhaps it isn't about the virus after all. Perhaps it is a wake-up call. What if we only had one week to live?
Of course I have been distracted. I ran one red light as well. I've been anxious, angry, confused, all over the map. But there's this blue heron I love. And a white squirrel. And a dog named Argo who lives down the street. And each and every living tree. And the sky, stormy or clear.
We may be in transition, but the environment has been thriving this whole time. It is our teacher, our reminder to live for today. In between the chaos, when I stop to breathe that in, I am transformed, if only for a moment. But this moment is everything. Ask this fellow...
Love to you on your journey,
C.A. MacConnell ↓
