It is hard during these days not to get too closed in, to worrying about my own well-being, my family, my friends, my community, when I think what I should be doing is opening up and thinking about the world. This is a Global pandemic no just in my little world but in the whole, great beg, world. I learned recently that 1/3 of the world’s population are in some kind of lock down. Think about that … 3 billion people are going through what we are going through. But many are not as fortunate as we are. Over 4 million Canadians have applied for Employment Insurance. In India they are rationing rice. In Italy so many have died they are having trouble disposing of the bodies.
I have committed today to thinking beyond myself, my family, my little community, my province, my country, my continent to consider the world. The whole wide, glorious, awesome, aching world. Do you remember singing that campfire song, “He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got whole round world in his hands…” It was a fun song to sing as kids and it has become my mantra for today.
The world is so vast but so small. Canadians, members of my own congregation, are in various parts of the world trying to, wondering if, they will get home in the near future. Planes that used to power through the sky in droves are now grounded. Ships that sailed the seas are docked. The world we experienced just weeks ago is now changed and completely different. And yet, and yet, there is a common humanity that links us. Neighbours are coming out to the front porch to check on one another and sing their national anthem. People are putting hearts and funny faces in windows for kids to spot on their walks. The initiative of banging pots and making noise to support health care workers that started in Italy has been picked up by many as the virus has spread globally. Musicians in all countries are offering concerts online from their homes. Late night talk show hosts are having their kids help with their productions filmed in their family rooms. And ministers are standing alone in their sanctuaries to videotape a service of hope to their congregations.
Years ago the World Council of Churches published these words… “The divine presence of the Spirit in creation binds us as human beings together with all created life. We are accountable before God in and to the community of life, an accountability which has been imaged in various ways: as servants, stewards and trustees, as tillers and keepers, as priests of creation, as nurturers, as co-creators. This requires attitudes of compassion and humility, respect and reverence.”
These words seem to ring so true today as we, a world wide community. work together to love the world back to health. Hold the world gently in your prayers tonight.
