Fragile Resilience

I'm so overwhelmed and burdened by all the tragedy in the news. It feels too big, too much. So unfair. From mass starvation in Africa to horrific acts of violence in Oslo, to a talented young girl falling victim to the pressures around her, representing a much bigger problem of addiction which seems to be snaring so many young people today. I'm sure I echo the thoughts of many as I say that all of this news is simply unbearable, unimaginable and yet so very real and we are all connected and somehow share in the grief.

This pampas grass blowing in the wind gave me a mental crutch for the day. I watched it get thrashed about by the angry wind. As the gusts died down it bounced back to it's former shape. Strong and resilient. So fragile - bending so easily under even the slightest pressure - but firmly rooted. Here we are, Human beings; all in it together. Sharing in one another's joys and sorrows. Natural born survivors, blown and thrashed about but still standing. Deeply rooted in one way or another. My own roots come in the form of relationships with my God, my family, community (and not least online community). I am made to connect, without connectedness I may as well not exist.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones, and also those who have nothing to eat. I am trying to decide how to act on my deep human yearning to respond. How should I be a good neighbour? I feel empty, and I know that it's because I need to connect somehow with my brothers and sisters across the globe who are aching with grief. I can donate a bit of money I guess, and I can pray, and when I do quiet my mind in prayer I can be sure not to ignore that still small voice that tells me how to act. I'm not trying to big myself up here - quite the opposite, I could have donated support the famine victims weeks ago, so this public outpouring of my thoughts can serve as my accountability to actually act on my deep inclinations.

I'm feeling the love for the blip community right now. All this modern age connectivity is a mixed blessing some of the time (the way it eats up time). For me it's at times like this though (when tragedy strikes) that social networking, blogs ect become truly beautiful and they let the human race shine as we were supposed to. Through facebook, blip etc etc, the world is so much smaller and we really can be neighbours to folk at the other side of the planet. So, as I head off to bed, it's with a deep sense of gratitude for this online community as well as my family and friends. Love, and sleep well x x x