The Mandala sits in its basket, next to my chair, waiting, waiting for me to give it some attention. Each time I sit down at the beginning or end of a day, I see it there waiting waiting - it is a presence in our house now. The project is paused while time and attention are focused elsewhere. And, to be frank, it is too warm to drape the heavy blanket it has become over myself. Perhaps it is for a later different season where meditation and reflection are the natural companions of the darkness and silence of winter.
These days of summer have been full of busyness and business. Covid-19 is on the rise with its concomitant stress and concern at home and work. A flurry of mask-making to protect daughters and their co-workers and friends has been a creative focus the last few weeks. I sewed the hope of good health into each, along with the prayer that the people who wear them commit to protecting their community. Let's take care of one another instead of fighting against the fear of "socialism" when the government requires mask wearing. Don't we all wear seat belts? pay car insurance? have driving licenses? These are also edicts intended to protect us. Please realize this is more important than personal freedom, this is a daring, revolutionary act of We the People. The pervasive us vs. them mentality is likely to kill us all. Our state reports over 100 deaths by Covid-19. At the end of June I wondered when we would hit the 5,000 positive cases milestone, and here we are, mid-July at 11,000. Will we be at 20,000 by August? Everyone wants schools to open in the fall - President is pushing it, Governor has a plan. There still isn't enough PPE for medical staff for caring for sick patients; how will we protect our teachers and children? I pray pray it isn't a foolish gamble with our children, with their lives and futures.
The garden is producing food at a rapid clip which we are putting away for the quietness of winter. As I harvest the greens and roots and fruits I am amazed at these plants, this earth, whose only job is to produce, produce. I remind myself to be mindful, to be grateful, for this miracle, this gift of food that the tiny seeds sown early this year, this land and weather, are providing.