EARTH DAY 2020

 The Father creator formed a planet we all call home, and we have been given an ability to respond to this relationship with the earth.

It is out of the matter of this  floating orb that we were born into the garden home we were given to live and thrive in.
   Genesis 1:1-2 , 2:7

•  Our garden home has been neglected and in need of desperate renewal. The skies above are saturated with fumes from car emissions, coal burning factories, gas fracking drills and deforestation practices world wide. The rivers, lakes, oceans are polluted with toxins from waste disposal, run off from over logging, tanker spills , garbage dumping and pipeline breaks. The demands of the species called Man/Woman has been beyond our garden home's ability to renew itself and sustain us. We are threatening our own survival. Our ignored interdependence and mandatory moral stewardship has been abandoned .

We are now facing, as one of many species, a pandemic viral disease that reflects our over consumption of natural resources and habitats. The population of the world has increased from 3 to 7 billion in one generation. Resulting in animals being forced to live closer to humans and now sharing a virus. We have also promoted GLOBAL relationships that have catapolted commerce in hopes of meeting the needs of ALL and  even to promote more WANTS  in our world. I see our time of great technology creating the vast computer/phone age, not unlike a vital nervous system, reaching almost every corner of the Earth. With this has come a feeling of interconnectedness. Yet created is a vast commercial wasteland of unessesary products ending up in landfills. Behind this global surge in commerce is an ever increasing demand for jobs for us to just to buy the necessities of living.

 Our garden is now, with this pandemic virus, being  given a chance to heal and become an Eden again. Those who have caused this, primarily US (USA world's largest polluter per person) have been given a chance to renew our relationship with our home's environment. The skies are clearing, the waters flowing clearer and the many animals being given a chance to thrive again. We as humans have become the carriers of a VIRUS COVID -19(HUMID-19?). We are being shown how  quickly nature will recover and be revived when we change our priorities. With mandatory quarantines our behavior has changed. We are slowing our lives down, wanting less, giving more, loving our neighbors and giving wildlife and our environment some rest is the result. Currently we have entered a 6th era of mass exstinction of animal species. This time we could be included in this era unless we wake up. "Our Father who art in Heaven" , also awaits our decision to "return" to a compassionate way of life in this garden.

My favorite quote, I remember from the 1970's concern for the population explosion at that time.."I live simply so others can simply live", Ghandi. This has been my choice to live this way and will continue to do so.

 The skies over Beijing and Los Angeles have almost cleared in a few weeks.  What will we all chose to do? How many more natural disasters and plagues will test our faith and duty to care for this fragile garden?

I chose, in my heart to believe that God's hand will lead us back to love and the wisdom to be better stewards.  To be grateful. Beautiful horizons are an inspiration now to heal and be transformed from our brokenness.  There is always room for more love in this world. Amen. Genesis 1:28

All People [April 4 Post Script]

is the meaning of the word PANDEMIC. This Covid-19 has made us all equal all over this earth... the great EQUILIZER. Yet those who will be most vulnerable to dying in the next years are the elderly already in poor health, first responders in close physical contact with patients and under the emotional stress of seeing so much loss of life, the poor living in unsanitary forced communities like refugee camps, workers of essential businesses and government agencies providing basic supplies and even more of those who have chosen to disregard the lockdown, recommended face covering and distancing mandates. In these ways we are NOT EQUAL.

What has LOVE got to do with it?

What has GOD got to do with it?

I am determined not to have these questions render me speechless. I am praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to fill this posting with the comfort and wisdom I so need at this time. I sit here at my computer on this second day of the latest 30 day lockdown. Friends and myself asking , "What will happen, will we get through this?'. Friends with children to raise with an uncertain future, others in there 80's anticipating their lives ending soon without seeing their children again and husbands driving trucks across country or partners working as first responders.

I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the courage I have seen in most to face each day. As a person who has easily given up many times to almost let go of my life for good, I know now when I see this courage in others, that THIS is LOVE.

This disease will by its nature, in its finality for some, tear us all apart from each others side, from each others hands, arms of comfort, of direct expressions of love. Even in the last breaths for those dying they will be totally alone. As a hospice caregiver, this is breaking my heart for the dying and the families only able to say their last words over a phone held by a compassionate nurse. In other places in the world, poor populations do not have these blessings. They will pass away, where they lay, with family or not, infecting others at the same time.

 With LOVE as the guiding force of my life and how I strive to treat others in my life, I will continue to be in awe and humbled by this powerful teaching GOD has for us all. I am loved by my creator and protector , no matter "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no[t] Psalm 23…..I am not alone and with this virus I am being shown my connection with everyone.

April 4 Post Script

I will turn 71 on April 5, 2020. I have lived a longer life than both my parents [56, 69]. In hearing this virus will be affecting how we live our lives for the next 2-3 years, I am feeling my vulnerability, with my age, being able to survive this pandemic. The vigilance on my part to do this will require me to maintain my mental and physical health and most of all my spiritual health.  I will be as vigilant as possible in my own environment. Most of all I promise  to keep close to my loving creator that awaits me, my hand is being held and I will be guided HOME.

The Lord is my shepard, he makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters, He refreshes my soul.....Psalm 23