[Oe List ...] Coronavirus Letter to Humanity

Sun Apr 12 06:02:16 PDT 2020

I’ve been finding a lot of collegiality in Andrew Prior (onemansweb.org) for several year.  Through his writing I’ve seen many similar underlying dynamics between Australia and the USA in how the First People, the immigrants, and the land are pushed aside in the systems we’ve created.  We’re experiencing the re-direction of personal protective equipment away from our clinics, as well as hospitals and primary care providers under the current administration’s corporation focused system.  And the COVID-19 death statistics are horrifying as we see the disproportionality between African-Americans and Hispanics compared to Anglos.  

In the midst of all of this are the people trying to pull things together.  Our M.A.s have ‘huddles’ each day where they share their concerns about infecting their own families – and yet they keep providing care in the clinics.  And we’ve seen innumerable other examples across our community and so many others around the world.

I don’t know if this will change the blindness of those who have chosen not to see.  That’s beyond my scope.  Sometimes disasters do bring change – but often that’s in the short run and there is a ‘regression to the mean’ after a brief time.  

Resurrection is at the center of life.  Anastasis is the Greek; literally, not being static or stuck.  In the midst of my lack of hope, and my frustration, I acknowledge that ‘unstuckness’ is real for all of us.

Bill

From: OE [mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of the telfords via OE
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2020 1:15 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: the telfords <thetelfords at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Coronavirus Letter to Humanity

Thank you Bill for your insight.

The poet sort of implies that the current virus pandemic is a result of the way we have been treating the earth.

Personally I don't believe that to be true.

But I think the poet is saying that this is giving us an opportunity to take stock of 

what is happening to our world as a result of our actions and now is the time to

stop being blind to the consequences of what we have been doing - take off the 

dark glasses and to change our behavior.

Certainly in Australia the unprecedented fire season we have just been through has 

been a real wake-up call to stop our denial of the part we have/are playing in causing

the drying up of the Darling River, the bleaching of the corals on the Great Barrier Reef etc.

So we pray that at this time we continue to love our neighbours, 

and start caring about the earth and all its creatures

A pretty appropriate message at Easter time.

 Peace

John

On Sat, Apr 11, 2020 at 11:35 PM William Schlesinger via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> > wrote:

So another thought.  When some religious figures read Katrina as God's response to gender and sexuality preferences, we did not agree.  They created that meaning, and we saw another reality.

For those of us in the Christian tradition, our central text contains a story - 'who sinned that this man might be born blind'?  And the answer was - 'No one sinned.  This is an opportunity to show the works of God'  (Matthew's gospel if you needed the citation).

Viruses mutate.  It's in their nature.  And some mutations are more effective than others at spreading, infecting, and not killing the host quickly so they can continue to spread.  For some of us, this is not 'caused' by human blindness or fear, but is an opportunity to show compassion, embrace forgiveness, and take responsibility.

Care for the earth - but don't use blaming and shaming in the process.

Bill Schlesinger

Project Vida

3607 Rivera Avenue

El Paso, TX 79905

(915) 490-6148 cell

On Sat, Apr 11, 2020 at 12:02 AM the telfords via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> > wrote:

A friend sent this to us so we thought we would share it with you all.

The earth whispered but you did not hear 

The earth spoke but you did not listen,

The earth screamed but you turned her off.

And so I was born.

I was not born to punish you..

I was born to awaken you..

The earth cried out for help..

Massive flooding. But you didn't listen..

Burning fires. But you didn't listen..

Strong hurricanes. But you didn't listen..

Terrifying tornadoes. But you didn't listen..

You still don't listen to the earth when:

Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters..

Glaciers melting at an alarming rate. Severe drought..

You didn't listen to how much negativity the earth is receiving..

Non-stop wars. Non-stop greed. You just kept going on with your life..

No matter how much hate there was.. No matter how many killings daily..

It was more important to get that latest iPhone than worry about what the

earth was trying to tell you..

But now I am here..

And I've made the world stop in its tracks..

I've made YOU finally listen.. I've made you take refuge..

I've made you stop thinking about materialistic things..

Now you are like the earth.. You are only worried about YOUR survival.

How does that feel?

I give you fever.. as the fires burn the earth.

I give you respiratory issues.. Has pollution filled the earth air.

I give you weakness as the earth weakens every day.

I took away your comforts.. Your outings.

The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain.

And I made the world stop..

And now.. China has better quality air..

Skies are clear blue because factories are noy spewing pollution into the earth's air.

The water in Venice is clan and dolphins are being seen.

Because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not being used.

YOU are having to take time to reflect on what is important in life.

Again I am not here to punish you.. I am here to AWAKEN you..

When all this is over and I am gone.. Please remember these moments..

Listen to the earth. Listen to your soul. Stop polluting the earth.

Stop fighting with each other. Stop caring about materialistic things.

And start loving your neighbours. Start caring about the earth and all its creatures.

Because next time I may come back even stronger....

by Vivinne R Reich - Feel free to copy and send.

Grace & Peace

John & Elaine

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