Today I hear the noise of traffic above the sounds of nature again. A
sign that - at the me of wring at least - human activity outside the
home is increasing after a degree of easing in the lockdown.
This is after a Spring which seemed to me more vivid, more
irrepressible, more beautiful than ever before. Maybe I experienced it
in this way because I stopped and noticed. I listened, and I saw.
How nature flourished when we let it alone, just to be!
This month, there was to have been an Eco Fest at Whittlesford Parish
Church. We would have come together to pay attention to our
relationship with the natural world; to notice how connected we are,
to consider how we can look after one another and our environment
better, to encourage and cherish life in our village in all sorts of ways,
and to celebrate it together.
We have had to look at these things anyway. We have reassessed
what really matters in life. We have realised that the virus originated
in human activity. We have noticed a connection between our very
existence, our quality of life, and the wellbeing of all living creatures.
We have had to stop. We have had to face anxiety, trauma, lament,
grief and the shocking realisation that we are not self sufficient, in
control or impervious. We have noticed that we are all affected ... we
are in it together. And somehow in our isolation we have drawn closer
as a community, as practical loving kindness has found new
expression.
What do we want now?
We are at a threshold. Some of us may want things to go back to the
way they were. On the other hand if we are to learn anything from our
experience and grow into a better society, growth means change. And
the past is not the future.
There is a wonderful word, ‘metanoia’ which is translated as
‘repentance’ in our English Bibles, but in fact it means ‘a complete
change of heart’. That opens up the possibility for something new, rather
than just a sense of remorse for our failings.
What do our hearts tell us now?
Jesus said ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (Luke
12: 40)
If we have noticed anything about what is really valuable in life, and
what is truly life giving, let’s not lose our treasure. Let’s do all that we
can to remind each other. We have the opportunity to grow in love for
one another and for our world. And Love is a verb.
We meet as virtual church every Sunday at 10am.
Sue Ginsberg
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