Everyday I go outside to do my power walk and prayer, weather permitting. And if you noticed lately, weather has been very permitting, especially here in the northeast.
Outside, I look up at the skies that are such a vibrant blue, accented with clouds the brightest of white. The daffodils have awoken, there are flowers sprouting up everywhere, exploding in the most beautiful colors and the trees with new buds branching out each day. The Cherry trees are in full bloom and there is no shortage of natural wonder to be had.
I hear songs, conversations, messages and instructions from a myriad of birds, so loud, so expressive and the rustling of furry creatures running through the underbrush. In the morning with windows tightly shut I hear the distant knocking of the woodpecker and the soft cooing of the morning doves. I realized for the first time today that it has been a long while since I heard the train whistle starting at 4:30AM or the constant thunder overhead of commuter airplanes.
I love the new quiet of the world, the emptiness of places and everything that has stepped out into the space we all used to occupy.
The months leading up to our current restriction, I truly felt how volatile and frenzied and out of control the world had become. The violence, hate, lack of compassion in understanding the plight of others, the natural disasters all over the world that caused us to pause, the sadness, fear and despair. It seemed to be getting bigger, stronger, taking over everything in its path. And then, it seemed, in an instant, it stopped. The world was taken out of it’s tyrades and tantrums, we were forced apart, forced to stop and go back to our respective corners. Playtime was declared over and we were now in “Time Out”.
We were forced back into our homes, our lives, our “stuff”, all of the things that a great majority of us spend plenty of time away from and/or neglecting, not wanting to deal and finding every distraction to distance us from our truths. But the Divine has seen fit, like a dutiful parent to put us all in the corner to stop, be quiet and think about our “stuff”. And instead of focusing on why we are there and seriously reflecting, most are focused on when we will be getting out, really missing the point.
Ingrid told me the other day that this was the end of the world and that she had dreamt about it some time ago. I agreed with her adding, “... as we know it”. Not one person can go through a worldwide event such as this and not be changed by it. As Hermione said to Harry and Ron at the end of “The Goblet of Fire”, “Now everything is going to change, isn’t it?”
“Yes”. We will all be different when we come out of this and the world at large will never be the same as well. People we love will be gone, people we love will lose everything, people we love will give up and some will not. My hope is that, as this has brought us to our knees, we will be humbled, kinder, more patient and compassionate and above all honest with ourselves and those around us. We will unite across the world and actually change it for the better, for everyone. I have been working on my “stuff” longer than this current event, but this has raised the bar and brought on a whole new perspective and urgency for me.
So, what are you in “Time Out” for?
