Being Connected
There are always opportunities to marvel and be moved by the living, growing, orbiting things around us
After weeks of storms bringing down trees and knocking out power, random things breaking, sickness and plans falling apart, we had a moment of alignment watching the total solar eclipse.
It is hard to imagine that it really happened, and yet the sky dimmed as we were covered with the moon’s giant shadow. Three Canada geese flew under the eclipse just before it became total. Eclipse glasses off, we saw golden light flitting around the shadow’s edge, catching on the clouds. It’s hard to explain how magical this fleeting moment was, but that circle of silver blue light felt transcendent surrounded by Jupiter and Venus sparkling in the sky on a spring afternoon. It was 3 minutes, out of 44 years of my life, but it felt like it opened a little spot in my mind to the idea that this unusual beauty and wonder can and do exist.
The experience of thousands of people (and many more than that across the path of totality) showing up to cheer on the celestial bodies that move through our sky day and night felt special. Though it might not get news coverage, we are surrounded by these contrasts and drastic changes in natural phenomena all the time. Most happen much more slowly than the hour or so it takes for the moon to cover the sun and no others can momentarily change the whole sky, but as exciting and brilliant as it is to witness something as spectacular and moving as the total eclipse, our world is filled with awesome moments.
A tiny, hard, dry seed that could blow away with the slightest breeze can be tucked in the soil and grow into a sunflower, eight feet tall, or a tomato weighed down by ripening fruit. The blue skies and brilliant sun can be covered with thick clouds in a few minutes, frozen snowy land will melt and become lush and green. Babies, who can barely even control their own muscles, grow into bigger humans who can write and cook and ice skate. Caterpillars to butterflies; eggs to chicks, butter; butter, flour, yeast into croissants; shooting stars; and daffodil stalks poking up through the snow.
I read something recently about how the weekly part of sending a newsletter is not essential since no one needs more content. There is too much to watch, listen to, and read. If we could somehow stretch the amount of human commentary, analysis, ideas, and memes it could probably reach far beyond our solar system but I know that I am often drawn to reading, listening, and watching more. Seeing that dazzling overwhelmingly gorgeous circle of light in the sky reminded me that even if it isn’t a continent wide celestial event, there are always opportunities to marvel and be moved by the living, growing, orbiting things around us. Humans and our screens are part of that, too, but looking up and around, feeling the earth between our toes and the breeze on our skin (or whatever way might feel good to you) is an equally important part of being connected.
Warmly,
Anna