It’s astounding what the power of two people can do to change a world. Two people traveled to our fair Commonwealth from Europe to attend a conference and a silent outbreak began.
They then went to parties, traveled about the region and boarded planes to other states and countries, unintentionally spreading the covert CoVid 19 virus. There were no rules for testing. Many doctors thought, “Maybe it’s the flu,” and sent people back out to socially interact, with normal flu care instructions.
It wasn’t the flu though, and 10 days passed before people were told to self quarantine. Suddenly, life as we know it came grinding to a halt with government imposed lockdowns and stay at home orders, schools, colleges, businesses, borders nearly everything closed. dozens got sick, some terribly sick, some got better, and sadly, some didn’t. In six weeks Boston went from 2 cases to 5,500 cases.
The Earth paused! And it seemed there was silence even in heaven. Silence. No traffic jams, no traffic!
We have been on the longest unplanned stay-cation in history. Socially distanced by mandate to be anti-social… No school , no recess, no Zumba, just Zoom calls. no Proms, no birthday parties. No weddings, no Funerals, no Trips to Grandma and Grampa’s. Those who can, are staying Home to stay safe.”
And while we, pollution clouds have cleared from Boston to Beijing, from Detroit to Delhi, from L.A to Louisiana, and the sky has become an unfamiliar color of blue, breathtakingly beautiful blue. We heard the silence of empty parks and playgrounds.
Except that it is not silent.
Listen closely, and we hear symphonic melodies of song birds singing in the blossoming trees as spring bursts forth in amazing colors. The creatures of the earth have gone out to play while most humans are tucked away in their homes.
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day , the climate has changed for the better for now. The question is, what lessons do we take from this?
Minus human presence, turkeys and penguins stroll down empty city streets, dolphins frolic in the clear blue waters of Venice’s canals now emptied of gondolas and water vehicles.
On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day , the climate has changed for the better for now. The question is, what lessons do we take from this?
Climate change is real. Dirty air will clear if people stop polluting . It took a virus to wake us up.
Are we awake though? Have we shifted our paradigm?
Now is the time to rethink what’s possible and plan a more compassionate world for all, respecting all of God’s creations. If we look up at the night sky now, it seems there are more stars. They were always there but our view was clouded by clouds of our own making.
I’m reminded of a song my mom used to sing, “On a Clear Day” by Robert Goulet…
On a clear day, rise and look around you
And you’ll see who you are
On a clear day how it will astound you
That the glow of your being outshines every star
You’ll feel part of every mountain, sea, and shore
You can hear from far and near a world you’ve never heard before
And on a clear day, on that clear day
You can see forever and ever more
You can hear from far and near a world you’ve never heard before
