Filed under: Art of the Day, Faith, Teaching | Tags: #HealthyatHome, #TeamKentucky, Covid-19, Easter, Quarantine, resurrection, spring
I heard the owl at 3am , softly calling somewhere outside my window- ‘Rise love, the world is here.’ I sat for a long time, leaning on the windowsill listening.
Like everyone, my little world has been upended. The carefully constructed fortresses of daily life were just castles made of sand after all. The lesson plans, the plays in rehearsal, the assessments, meetings, celebrations have all melted away. And I’m fine with that, more than fine, my heart swells with relief. There are concerns, there are hazards- worries over exposure, each decision to engage with the world outside my garden is fraught with dire consequences. How do I protect my daughter and my mother from both exposure and the depression of isolation? My daughter’s mental health balances on the edge of a dinner fork even on good days. Her eating disorder has been rallying strength, as has the urge to self harm. Some of these days have been hard indeed. I too must be careful not to fall down my own rabbit hole as I stare too long at the computer screen on some days, as all my teaching and work has moved to the virtual world.
But there is joy too, such joy! Time uninterrupted to meditate on beauty, earth’s unfailing dedication to life on full display as spring pushes up through the nurturing dark and blooms all around me. My heart sings with my good luck to live here in Her garden. Along with flower and leaf, the frogs have made it through the winter and now sun themselves on the rocks at the edge of the little pond. Bats have returned to the sky. Birds of every kind are busy courting and building their nests. I hear the owl every night now, calling me back to myself. I am being given both courage and time to tend to my own work, the secret work of my heart made manifest in the stories I am writing and the art I make.
I tend the garden yes, but the garden also tends me.
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The Fox at Dawn 
Beautifully spoke, Loren. Only positive thoughts go out to you and your daughter! Stay strong.
Comment by Marty April 12, 2020 @ 1:55 pmThis was the Easter “sermon” I needed. Both my girls are home, the younger finishing senior year in her bedroom. Both battle depression but only the younger addresses it with medication. The roller coaster days are wearing on everyone. Thank you for sharing these beautiful homilies. Love to you and yours. Smash
Comment by Martha Pardee April 12, 2020 @ 3:08 pmHI Smash! My heart hurts for all the seniors who are robbed of these last sweet months of high school. I send you and your girls love. Be well!!
Comment by Loren Crawford April 12, 2020 @ 4:24 pm