I was walking more carefully than usual through my neighborhood this morning, stepping over all the dead tree limbs on the ground. It was the familiar “day after” scene, ubiquitous in the southeastern United States. The feeling I had was different, though. Before my walk, I’d seen on my phone that there was a new storm brewing just where Helene had begun. Oh God! I perceived frightening anger, emanating from our wounded planet. The waters of the gulf are not warm today; they are hot! From that man-made heat can come many more Helenes and worse.
I was seized by a cold, helpless feeling; I felt stuck in an overwhelming, anxiety provoking karmic trap. It’s getting out of control out there and I’m feeling powerless! These precious trees that lost parts of themselves during Helene would likely be losing much more in the days to come as the heat we created drives bigger, stronger, more dangerous storms through the area. I thought of the relentless fires in other places in the country – and in the world at large – and the rising sea levels. I felt sick.
Then I remembered my breath. As I began to focus on that first conscious inhalation, I became aware of the fact that this was everyone’s hurricane, this is everyone’s apocalyptic moment. What an important, fortunate time to be alive, I realized. It impressed me as critical to be as aware and as compassionate as I could be, to allow these times to be fully known and felt by me, no hiding, no denying.
I realized I was here to witness this frightening time and to bring my awareness and compassion to all those suffering its dangers and uncertainties with me. My love and compassion are important. I was reminded that there are still many people who are indifferent (at best) to the climate problem, still spiritually asleep and self-driven. To be conscious of it is what is necessary. When I thought of giving, the fear stopped. The more my awareness moved in this direction, the more my fear-driven anxiety was transformed into a steadying feeling of connection with this precious place and all those who dwell on it. I understood that the more I let my ego lead, the more it frightened me, and the more mindful I became, the greater my understanding of the exciting and profound demands of these times, and the importance of my being present to them.
So I’m here to tell you that we are living in the times we were born for. Let us bring our whole selves to the challenge.
