Dear friends,
Today I had planned on sharing a teatime recipe for St. Patrick's Day, but alas, another post has been swirling round in my heart and mind these last few days and I felt that it needed to be shared instead. The recipe will be posted on Monday, and Tuesday will be a post with some (what I feel are) beautiful photos and reflections on my trips to Ireland in celebration of St. Paddy's Day.
It is no secret that the world is going mad at the moment. The news is literally filling our eyes and ears at every waking moment. People are responding in a whole host of ways. And to be quite frank with you, my heart is heavy and my mind is full.
The whole coronavirus pandemic has swept the planet over. Countries all over the world are literally having to shut down it seems. Businesses are temporarily closing. Schools are cancelling classes. Airports and airlines are cancelling flights and travel is being halted all over creation. It is serious. We are in a worldwide crisis mode.
I'm not normally a news watcher. It's something I avoid as much as I can. Of course, if there is something major going on, I find out about it. (How could you not?!?!) But in my everyday, regular living, I do not watch or read the news. However, these last couple of weeks, I've found myself turning to the news sites on my phone on and off throughout the day. My anxiety has returned in full force. The news can be confusing. One outlet says this and another says this. It is very evident that some news outlets' sole purpose is to scare the bejeebers out of you. I, for one, am thankful for the news sites that simply wish to inform people and be a voice for others to hear and receive valuable, reliable information from. However, most are in the first category.
People are losing their minds it seems. On our local news a few nights ago, a man was being interviewed and the reporter asked if he was doing anything to protect himself from the virus. He confidently declared that no he was not. In fact, he went on to state that he didn't normally wash his hands before the outbreak, so he sure wasn't going to start now. We wondered where in the world they find the people that are interviewed on the news!
If you are one of the people who have a problem with the precautions the government is taking and telling people to stay home and avoid travel and crowds and to only be out in public when absolutely necessary. If you are online making memes and joking sarcastically about washing hands and applying hand sanitizer. If you don't give two figs about the fact that the world is in crisis mode and people are dying and this virus is dangerous for folks, especially those with pre-existing health conditions and the elderly, then I bid you a good day.
I read a good article yesterday in which the journalist said that we are not being asked to go off to war like some of our ancestors were. We are simply being asked to stay home. And honest to goodness, how hard is that? It's not going to kill people to stay home and live simpler, slower, quieter lives for a bit. Now I'm ranting, but seriously, this is something I'm passionate about on a normal day, but when something like this comes up and people are just ignoring the simple things they're being asked...wash your hands, avoid crowds, stay home and don't travel...that just kicks it up a notch. I have an extremely low tolerance for ignorance and yet that is what is being displayed by so many people at this time. It is better to be overly cautious and prepared and nothing happen then it is to be completely ignorant and unprepared and then something happens. Tell me I'm not crazy for thinking that!
My mind is full and my heart heavy. I'm sick and tired of all the ignorance and the downright foolish behavior that I've seen. I'm nervous about what this virus might continue to do and how long it will stay around. And I feel worn down. Period.
I've already decided that I need to greatly reduce my news intake. We all should if you ask me. I've pulled out a tall pile of DVDs of shows and movies that are calming and bring peace back to my soul. Anne of Green Gables, The Road to Avonlea, Gilmore Girls, Little Women, Lark Rise to Candleford, Downton Abbey, 7th Heaven, and some favorite movies. I've selected a variety of music to fill my heart with hope and gladness and some bliss...the Little Women soundtrack is playing in my ears as I type this post. I've pulled a stack of recipes that I want to try. I've been in a breadmaking kick since the New Year started, so it may be time to try out our new kitchen scale and make some English muffins. Paul Hollywood's recipe, to be precise. Maybe some hamburger buns...I'll have to see if my mom can put that on the menu plan. After all, the grilling season is about to officially begin. Which brings me to...
I need to get outdoors more and allow the fresh air to clear my mind and breathe hope and life and magic back into my body. Springtime is almost here and there are signs of her grand arrival all over our yard. The redbud tree outside my window is budding and will soon be covered in gorgeous blossoms. The same goes for the dogwood in the front yard. It's been raining here which should encourage the growth of all the things. And I cannot wait for the trees in our yard to be full of bright leaves again...I love living under a canopy of green!
When I'm stressed and filled with anxious thoughts, I simply cannot read, despite the fact that I well know that reading is one of the best ways to relieve stress. I'm determined to allow a book to calm my spirit, though. There's a stack of probably eight books next to my bed...books that I know share stories of a simple, calm, home-centered life. Books that speak beauty into all the corners of the earth and individual lives. Books that offer adventure with the turning of the page. I have also found some profoundly beautiful poetry here lately. A few, in particular, caused a lump in my throat. Perhaps I'll share some here on the blog soon...I think you would find them lovely as well.
Friends, the world is going nuts right now. To put it plainly. There's a lot of news out there, some of it true, some false. Some written to inform but most to scare. Every morning brings new mercies with the sunrise and there's still so much to be grateful for, so much beauty to behold and so much kindness out there.
Remember, home is a haven. Embrace the gift that is. Slow down, live simply. Quietness and hiddenness are blessings, not just now, but all the time. Find little things that bring delight and bliss and magic. Allow the ordinary, simple things to become magical, beautiful and lifegiving. Be at peace and seek after it, too. Sometimes it doesn't just land in our lap, but we have to seek it and cultivate it and create an atmosphere where it can bloom and grow and flourish. Be kind and gracious and gentle and compassionate. If there's something our world needs more of, it's that.
This, too, will pass and all shall be well again. The world has gone through hard times before and it will again. My grandparents and great-grandparents shared stories to prove this to be true. Every time something like this happens, someone declares it "the end of the world", and yet here we are, centuries later, still trodding on. This is one of those times, but it will not go on. No winter lasts forever and no spring skips her turn.
Read a book. Listen to good music. Watch a beloved movie or show. Get out in nature. Breathe in fresh air. Admire the beauty of the earth. Allow the spirit of God to fill you with peace, for He did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and a sound mind. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. Eat food that's good for your body. Be wise and use your common sense.
Grace and peace be with you, friends!
♥