For Saturday morning, a lament.
July and lightning bugs are giving way to cicadas. Caterpillars are munching milkweed leaves, tomatoes are ripening on the vine, green peppers are growing, green beans are blossoming. Summer is truly here. The high green of early June has deepened, the birds quieter mid-day, noisier in the morning and evening.
Without any help from humans, the seasons progress. But it is human hands and minds changing the nature of seasons, human ingenuity causing the climate to change, bringing with it record heat, stronger storms, drought and flood. A few days ago the air temperature in northern California was so high, mussels boiled in their shells and died. Climate is changing so rapidly, Wright whales are dying in droves and it may be too late to stop their extinction. When will we wake up? When will you wake up? When will I wake up?
When we live as if we are the only ones who matter, the world suffers. When we live as if only others matter, we suffer. In the middle is a path of caring and compassion, a path that allows for leaving only a small footprint, but a lasting legacy; a path that allows for the ideas of others to flourish with love and grace and allows for forgivness and gratitude. Walking this path means always being mindful of those to come.
Today be mindful of what you do. Your actions are your message to the world and your legacy.
louisetallen 