Hi, everyone. I hope this email finds you feeling well and keeping yourself safe and positively occupied.
Today is May 1st, half way between the spring equinox and summer solstice. For centuries it was celebrated around the world based on agricultural significance. Crops planted earlier in the year were sprouting, flowers were blooming, cows were calving and folks were excited to gather to dance around the Maypole, etc. I read that you should wash your face with the morning dew of May 1 to beautify your skin and bring good luck. Shucks. Missed it.
In more recent decades, it has become International Workers Day to celebrate the contribution of the “common laborer”. In this time of pandemic crisis, it is important to recognize and celebrate the “essential worker” who is going to work amid the dangers so we can continue to access the goods we need. I hope you find some way to say thanks.
It’s been another week of mixed news. There seems to be a slow down in the rate of new cases of COVID19 but the overall number of infected has reached 1 million+, the deaths reached 65,000+ but the slower rate still reflects more infected every day. Of the 1+million infected, about 900,00 are still active, not recovered! Those are not just numbers, they are people. Mothers and Fathers, brothers, sisters, friends; Nurses, doctors, First responders, transit workers, meat packers. The list goes on. And they have left many grieving in isolation, like many of them died. My anger continues at the inept way the government has handled (and still is) this crisis. Knowing that my anger doesn’t change anything, I am channeling my energy into sending messages to elected official (city, state, national) and helping in whatever small way I can. No one action is big but together they have a cumulative effect. It helps me sleep at night feeling I’ve not passively accepted the notion “there’s nothing I can do”.
How are you doing? Are you taking care of yourself, being attentive to how you’re feeling? Do you give yourself time to read, listen to music, meditate, be active, be creative, find joy? Are you staying in contact with family, friends, others who may need to hear a caring voice? Taking care of yourself nurtures your spirit, gives you more energy and the capacity to feel compassion and find time for others.
Maya Angelou wrote:
We need joy as we need air.
We need love as we need water.
We need each other as we need the earth we share.
- Friday nights on YouTube, you can tune in to a free movie at Lionsgate Live: A night at the movies.
- Many artists are providing free mini concerts. Plug in the name of your favorite/free concert and see what’s available. Check out DIY projects and TED talks.Send me your suggestions.
That’s it for this week. Please tune in to our FB group page on Sunday to hear Rev. Janna Nelson and switch to zoom afterwards for our first forage into a virtual social hour. Let me know how I can be there for you (including financial assistance via our Discretionary Fund).
I miss you all enormously!
Love and hugs,
Rev. Marsha