Hidden Order

I went for a hike in the woods this morning. At first glance the landscape looked gray and uninviting. Almost all of the leaves have fallen. And the trees stand like tall silent sentinels against gray skies. Fallen branches and trees are scattered on the forest floor. Still, by slowing down and looking closely at the life all around me I found

and beauty throughout the woods — lichens, curving tree trunks, oak leaves against the sky, decaying wood, moss at the base of a tree trunk.

I needed time in the woods today to reconnect with my sense of safety and wholeness. It seems everyone is ready to prognosticate and predict what might happen in the next years. But really, we don’t know what will happen. We simply don’t know. I’ve begun limiting how much news I watch or read. The words doom scrolling have taken on a new meaning for me. And I refuse to go to that place of despair or helplessness.

It’s easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and feelings of doom. But it’s just thoughts. And it’s just feelings. Feel your feelings. But don’t keep feeding fear and worry. And please don’t succumb to cynicism. Do something that makes you feel good. Smile at a stranger. Create something. Go looking for beauty and goodness. Spend time in nature.

Landscape

Isn’t it plain the sheets of moss, except that
they have no tongues, could lecture
all day if they wanted about

spiritual patience? Isn’t it clear
the black oaks along the path are standing
as though they were the most fragile of flowers?

Every morning I walk like this around
the pond, thinking: if the doors of my heart
ever close, I am as good as dead.

Every morning, so far, I’m alive. And now
the crows break off from the rest of the darkness
and burst up into the sky—as though

all night they had thought of what they would like
their lives to be, and imagined
their strong, thick wings.
— Mary Oliver

Most of all, spend your time and energy doing things that you believe will make a positive difference rather than worrying about what might happen.

It’s been heartening to me to read the words of other creatives who were also upset about the election outcome. And over the days of this week, many have reminded me that we were made for these times. Rachel Maddow suggested that we intentionally connect with others, join a group, get involved. That seems like very good advice to me.

All right you guys. We were made for this. We were made for this. This is what we trained for. Have you taken your deep breaths?

…We now have got stuff to do. We really were, in some important ways, as Americans, made for this.

…History did not end. Time did not just stop. We just got our marching orders.

— Rachel Maddow

Take heart friends. And take care. Help those who are getting lost in their fear. And ask yourself what you can do to make a positive difference. Then do it.

May you walk in beauty.