Perfect
Dear Friends,
My daughter asked me recently, do you think that everything happens for a reason? When I pressed her more about what she was asking, she clarified her question: "Do you think that this pandemic is happening for a reason? Like, not what is the actual cause, but WHY did it happen?"
Whoa, that's a BIG question! My friend Bill Tara humorously answered this question last Spring during the first shut downs by commenting, "Mother Nature has sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done." Now, I'm not one to think that God is punishing us, yet something about this time when so many are in solitary confinement or homeless due to natural disaster or economic woes does make me consider the possibility that between the scary virus, the economic pressure and the violent weather, Mother Earth is issuing some mighty warnings. The bible wrote of plague and pestilence, the American Indian prophecies speak of the imminent end of civilizations as we know it, and the Oriental Sages spoke about the Age of Great Fire. Are we there yet??
However, my well-honed Positive Self-talk Angel whispers sweeter messages in my ear: These times are difficult, and ripe with tragedy, yet perhaps it is what this nation needs in order to make long awaited changes. Perhaps this is not deserved, yet somehow necessary to wake us all up from our slumbering along, just getting by. Revving ourselves up to push social change isn't easy. Supporting a more healthy and resilient population isn't easy. Sustainable living isn't easy. But it's all needed. These three pillars of modern life need a re-set. Perhaps all this difficulty is - PERFECT. A perfect set-up for sweeping change. And what's more, there are the stories about the positive changes that are happening: people cleaning their homes and gardening; animals daring to wander into towns; pollution clearing up; young people stepping up to support elders; the heroes on the front lines; the overwhelming philanthropy that has poured out to help; the political leaders who protected their nations well.
But in the end, what I ended up answering my daughter was, simply: I'm really not sure if there is any overarching reason for this pandemic, love. But I do know, that regardless of whether or not there is any bigger purpose to these events, they can be utilized toward creating the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible. So, that's what we will try to do!
If the world gives you lemons, make lemonade as the saying goes. And if the earth gives us tragedy, illness, grief and despair, let us take these heavy times and dig deep to make changes loaded with weighty meaning.
And here is a song to make it all a bit easier today.
In solidarity,
Eliza Eller