Before I begin this, I need you to know that I understand science.  I don’t believe solely in science but I do know that the earth is not flat and that gravity is a thing.  I believe humans have the capacity to do great things through science, to understand our world and to help fellow human beings.  However, even great scientists and physicians will concede once in a while to things they don’t fully understand.  And while I too can look at our current situation in this country, reading all things Covid19, with how rapidly things are changing, I find myself stopping to wonder why.

Maybe it’s just like the Big Bang Theory – this just popped up seemingly out of nowhere, spreading like wildfire.  We don’t understand it, can’t completely pin down its origin, can’t really seem to control it so what we’re told to do is hide from it.  Hide in our homes with our little nuclear families, staying away from work and socialization buying up toilet paper like fiends and just stopping.  Everything.  Now.

Now I don’t know about you but I LIVE on busy-ness.  My calendar dictates my days, nights and weekends.  It’s like life happens to me rather than me living life.  There’s a part of me that loves it, but at the same time I feel myself screaming inside for some tranquility.  More me time.  More time to get those little things done that always seem to stay on the to-do list. Well, seems I’ve gotten what I’ve wished for.

We’re being forced to interact, for long periods of time, with our families.  With nowhere to go and nothing to do, we’re going to have to be creative.  I feel for parents having to monitor all the school work from home.  I’ve always wanted those outside of education to have the opportunity, at least for a short time, to experience a fraction of what we face on a day to day basis as teachers.  Seems I’ve gotten what I’ve wished for.

I’ve got several books sitting new and unopened on my coffee table, just waiting to be read.  Now is my opportunity.  There’s this on-line class I’ve talked about taking for a year now.  I think I have time now. I’ve needed to clear out closets and cabinets for a while now and give things away but I’m always exhausted when I get home from work so I put it off until some other time when I’m not so tired.  Seems I’ve got some time now.

I get that this is going to prove a hardship for everyone.  Things are going to look different for a while.  I wonder if it’s not a time for creativity and innovation, a time to look at doing things in a better way.  Is this why this has happened in such a drastic way?  Do we need to make changes we weren’t willing to make and now we’re being forced to do it?

Nature is our guide here.  When things aren’t working, nature adapts.  Despite the fact that most humans believe themselves to be greater than the rest of nature, we’re just a part of the ecosystem. Eventually the mighty shall fall, especially when they get so busy that they forget they’re a part of this wonderful planet.  Is this all just a logical progression of what happens when humans get too big for their britches?  We’re being required to get back to the very basics of survival, staying sheltered, warm and fed.

The by-product of this seems to be that once the busy-ness stops, we become acutely aware of those who will suffer the most.  The homeless, the children  who live in poverty who depend on schools for a meal or a shower.  Businesses are sharing products to help out, and everyone is quick to give of their time to teach everything under the sun.  Best selling authors are giving their time to doodle with children online during their lunch time.  Professional dancers are giving lessons on line.  The Metropolitan Opera is streaming great operas on-line for anyone to watch.  Wifi is available for free for those who can’t afford that.  When we stop being so busy, we see others in need.  These people have always been there, we just didn’t see.  Maybe this is one of the reasons why.

For me, the most moving are the scenes of people leaning into music and the arts for support.  I watched through tears as I saw Italians singing with each other from their balconies as they live quarantined in their homes. On the CBS Evening News tonight, the story followed artists who were sharing their music during this stressful time. “We can’t lose sight of the importance of kindness, empathy and staying emotionally connected”. Stopping the busy-ness allows us to stop and see, hear and experience the beauty all around us from nature and from each other.

I want to imagine that God or whatever higher power you may believe in, has allowed some of this to slow us down, to help us reconnect with each other and what is good in the world. Maybe He’s been trying to get our attention for some time and, like a good parent, finally had to try something drastic to get His point across.  I don’t know.  It’s not very scientific.  But it makes me wonder if this might be the answer why.