The Birds Don’t Know
The birds don’t know there is a global human health pandemic. As I step out onto my deck to drink my morning coffee, they are carrying on like crazy! Their “job” never changes. Their purpose never shifts. They were made to sing! And that is what they do. Every morning. They sing. It’s what they were made to do.
As I’m sitting on my deck on Day 5 of the “all non-essential personnel should work from home” edict from my employer — and the mayor, governor, President of the United States, I’m thinking about the birds.
While the human toll is tragic and ultimatley will rise to biblical proportions. While mankind is suffering — medically, emotionally, spiritually, our planet is “taking a deep breath.” Air pollution has all but ceased, due to a majority of the world working from home. Empty freeways in some of the countries’ largest cities equates to curtailed fuel emissions. The usually murky, muddy waters of the Grand Canal in Venice are now clear blue (though water quality has not improved.)
Life as we know it has come to a screeching halt! And the earth and sky and seas rejoice! This cease fire settling upon the world is a chance for all of us — individually and as a nation and world — to regroup, reevaluate, and reset our lifestyle.
We cut down all the trees to build huge buildings. Now, companies are discovering, in some cases, their business can function effectively and efficiently with a majority of their workforce telecommuting. So there was ultimately no need for businesses to invest in costly infrastructure — buildings, offices, and everything else! Those smarter than I can calculate the billions, if not trillions, of dollars that could have been saved! Would every couple need 2 — or more — cars if both spouses worked from home. Would costly, full-time day care be a given?
Guest experts on news programs are now “dialing in” remotely. Airlines flights are all but non-existent, so some of the new dynamic is out of necessity. But it’s working out. And a new model is being tweaked. Cross-country business travel could be largely curtailed with the efficient deployment of technology.
We are in the effect aspect of the “cause and effect” model. My worse fear — mankind’s most terrifying nightmare — is unfolding before our eyes, around our world. But there are lights. There are positives. There are markers of our new normal that in a perfect world, have the potential to create an entirely new normal. One in harmony with our earth. One in harmony with our families. One in harmony with our neighbors. One in harmony with other countries.
I refuse to believe this is a pie-in-the-sky perspective! Throughout history God warned us when we veered too far off track from His vision and design. And throughout history mankind ignored His urgings to rethink our choices. It feels as if we got “here” at the speed of light! But the truth is it was incremental! That’s why we didn’t notice! One morning we woke up to a reality with out of control assumptions and acceptance.
Leaders are emerging. The best of human kind are rising to the top of the fray. Generosity is on display. We are still a world in shock! There hasn’t been enough time to process it all. But there is hope. We have been given a chance to reset, regroup and start anew this journey called life as we know it.
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