As frightening fire continued to speed across northern New Mexico this week, I began to think about transitions. There are many ways to describe the time period we live in, 22 years into the 21st century, but today it seems to me that 'transition' is a significant one. The years of Pandemic and the years that stretch ahead are collective transition years, where much remains unsettled. We are trying as a society to move beyond the Pandemic, while at the same time to be watchful of Covid variants. We have also become aware that new viruses and micro organisms will continue to arise, as boundaries between the animal world and the human world shrink. But learning to adapt to mutating viruses is just one of the shifts of these times. We are entering a new kind of direct encounter with nature, the changes that human development has brought, and the renewed necessity to come into right relationship with our environment. As fire information officer Ryan Berlin said of the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire, "...we need a little help from Mother Nature to shut the wind down, and a little rain." The tone of his words in the midst of the fierce wind and heat, the unrelenting focus and skill required of the fire fighters, and the tragedy of lost homes and potentially lost lives, seemed strangely gentle. But perhaps that gentleness is what is needed in our coming into some new alignment with Nature. Certainly gentleness is a balm to those who face loss. And calm gentleness toward ourselves and in prayer, opens our hearts to receive guidance.
Times of drought and fires are not foreign to New Mexico or the southwest in general. Neither is an appeal to Mother Nature for intervention and prayer. But the impact of the fires, and other future weather events goes far beyond the local level. The world is watching this fire. Perhaps along with courage and skill, we can offer it gentleness. (Susan Nettleton)
For poetic perspective on times of struggle that point to gentleness, follow the links below.