Simple Moodlings \'sim-pѳl 'mϋd-ѳl-ings\ n: 1. modest meanderings of the mind about living simply and with less ecological impact; 2. "long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering" (Brenda Ueland) of the written kind; 3. spiritual odds and ends inspired by life, scripture, and the thoughts of others
Yesterday was a strange Earth Day, to be sure. I wonder what might have happened if there was no corona virus keeping us all apart. Marches and rallies? Earth Day parties and concerts? Pollution as per usual?
In an effort to mark it in some way, two days before the event, I went out and decorated our front sidewalk with chalk, reminding people about Earth Day, and inviting them to give her a some love by joining in my little Resurrection Project (click here to read that moodling) and cleaning her up.
In many ways, our covid confinement is cleaning her up. Because we are staying home, there are less fossil fuel emissions, some waterways are cleaner in usually crowded tourist places, our songbirds are heartened by a reduction in noise pollution and are singing more, and other species are enjoying some places from which they've been displaced by humans. Scientists are noticing these things... are we?
I can't help but hope that we will learn something from all of this, though I worry that once covid restrictions are lifted, humans will return to our old ways with a vengeance, as if to make up for all the "deprivations" of being stuck at home.
While we have a chance to notice the good things this enforced simpler living is doing, I'd like to appeal to our higher natures to consider carrying many of the good habits we are developing now into our covid-free future. Things like one grocery trip a week, and saving our elderly neighbours trips to the store. Going for long walks. Spending love miles instead of air miles. You can probably name a dozen other things you might be doing differently that are having a small but positive impact on our planet's health.
It's been a long while since I've posted a Simple Suggestion, mainly because, after 280 of them, it seems I've covered a lot of the possibilities... But every day can be an Earth Day, and global climate change won't stop just because we're all stuck at home for a few months. We really need to live Laudato Si... and do more to protect and care for our common home.
Because of the coronavirus, we have just come through the most unusual Lent I can remember -- a time when not only Christians, but people of all faiths have been asked to give up many things. And now we have reached the Triduum, the three holy days marking the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
How do we carry it through?
For me, Easter weekend has always been one of the busiest weekends of the year because I am usually up to my eyeballs in liturgical music for the season. But this year, even our churches are closed, and Alberta Health Services and the provincial government have outlawed gatherings of more than 5, or just those who live together in one household. So I won't be gathering with friends to sing the solemn songs of Good Friday, lead Taizé Prayer Around the Cross, or participate in our joyful Easter Vigil choir. Heavy sigh.
Really, it's a small price to pay for preserving the health of people, particularly those on the front lines during this pandemic. But I will miss all the Triduum singing, and the people with whom I so enjoy making music of solemnity and celebration.
Fortunately, many Good Friday events will be happening online. A couple of dear priest friends will be livestreamed saying mass from their parishes in Sherwood Park and St. John's NL, the brothers of Taizé will hold their Prayer Around the Cross on their hillside in France, and the Edmonton Outdoor Way of the Cross, which celebrates its 40th year, has been pre-recorded using appropriate social-distancing protocols and is now posted online for participants to enjoy. Even if you've never walked with Good Friday crowds in Edmonton's inner city, I would encourage you to take your faith to the streets listen to the message of this walk... This video goes live at 10 am on April 10th, the time the walk is usually scheduled.
One thing is certain... there will never be another Triduum quite like this one. May it move us to a deeper solidarity with all those who are struggling, and motivate us to be the hands and feet and heart of God on earth.
