Hope Too
I had almost given up hope …
I am not a morning person, never have been. When I was a preteen, I was gifted a night shirt which was embossed with an image of the Disney dwarf, Grumpy, along with the words, “I don’t like mornings,” or some such phrase.
Because I am a slow riser, I do not like to do anything that breaks the morning stillness and quiet, like talking. I do, however, enjoy the sounds of nature as I arise and begin my day.
Ever since Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter this year—2022—I have been eagerly anticipating the returning birds’ tweets, twitters, and chirps.
I was really concerned that the avifauna population had taken a hit due to dining on pesticide poisoned cicadas last year. When Polly and I took our morning walks, the bird song chorus did not seem as robust as in past years.
This morning, that changed.
Dawn was just breaking and the full moon was setting as we set out. Immediately I could tell the difference. The air was reverberant with the sing-song chorus of birds galore and I was overjoyed to experience their choral performance.
Have you been feeling overwhelmed lately? I have.
I had my thyroid removed in January due to cancer and have been enduring some long-term detrimental side effects of the antibiotics I was given during and after surgery. My gut health, or lack thereof, is wreaking havoc with my bodily functions. Between that and my body’s response to processing the synthetic thyroid hormones, I am not sure what ‘normal’ is anymore.
Not only is my body under assault but so is my mind and heart when I watch the news and see the images coming out of Ukraine, or read about the Republicans’ eleven-point plan to rescue America. Both are equally despicable!
The Republican party appears to desire the United States to return to pre-WWI isolationism by denying that we are an interconnected, interdependent world where isolationism simply will not work without detrimental results to its citizens – i.e. China, Russia.
They glorify the misogynistic, xenophobic, and homophobic Americana of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s where might was white, women “knew their place,” and no one other than white, cisgender, heterosexual males had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
They promote a religion that has nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus and propagate policies that stand in direct contrast to the God they claim to love.
They idolize the man who thinks Putin is smart and savvy, as well as Putin himself.
Mitch McConnell’s hypocrisy … Tucker Carlson’s lies … Ted Cruz’s infantile egomania …
Repugnant!
But I digress …
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow nor reap nor store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
In the context of the Sermon on the Mount from which this verse is taken, Jesus is talking about worrying. He continues by telling his listeners to “see how the flowers of the field grow.”
Worrying aside, I love that Jesus tells us to look at the birds and to see the flowers. Many of his stories and parables include examples of nature. It is like he is saying the earth itself is where we should turn whenever we are overwhelmed with cares and trauma. The feminine incarnate grounds us and sets us aright.
“Have you not seen
that God
created the heavens and Earth
in truth?
He created all things through His
omnipotence,
adorned them through His knowledge,
and governed them
through His wisdom.
Thus, the one who contemplates
the Creator
through the creation,
the wonders of the creation
will become apparent.
But to the one
who contemplates the creation
through the Creator,
the traces of His omnipotence,
the lights of His wisdom
and the extent and profundity
of His workmanship
… will be unveiled. “
– Sahl al- Tustari
By marveling at creation, we can take comfort in the knowledge that everything serves a greater purpose.
I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” John 16:33
