Visualizing Right Relationships and Flourishing in the Midst of Pandemic

Every morning I read a meditation called Pray As You Go.  I find it a way to center myself before the busyness of work and the news of the day start to impinge on my life.  One of the reflections this past week asked that I reflect on the natural world and living sustainability within it.  What does it look like to develop a holistic spirituality, built on right relationships with God, with one another, and with the creation?

The reading for the morning was a portion of Psalm 104 after which I was challenges to imagine the beauty of the earth and a place of flourishing within this time of COVID.

You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart. These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.

I could not help but imagine a particular place where I happened upon a beautiful tall grass prairie in the midst of the Chicago downtown.  It was totally unexpected and so it was one of those surprises that bring delight.  The juxtaposition of the beautiful Chicago skyline, along with the restoration of a piece of the original landscape gave me such joy—I do love both Chicago and tall grass prairies. No surprise that Frank Lloyd Wright’s “prairie-style architecture arose here.

May we build more landscapes that give joy and reflect humans and the earth in right relationship with each other.  And may we build or maintain surprises around every corner.