Image: Nina Bisognani
Peace in a time of chaos
The dog days of summer are here, sultry and sticky. By ten AM there
is no parking at the beach. On dangerously hot afternoons, we keep our children and pets inside.
Outside, the humidity is exhausting our bodies and stifling our minds. Inside, our frustrations mount as we watch more TV and listen to disparaging comments about frightening events in our chaotic world.
That we are linked to the rhythms of the earth is a saving grace for our summer survival. When the sun goes down, the earth cools, making it more comfortable to spend time outside.
Birds who are active during the day pay a final visit to the feeder before nestling in tree branches and other safe places for the night. Weather permitting, we go for walks, weed our gardens, play ball, sit on porches, or simply enjoy watching the deepening sky.
The time has come when our minds can begin to heal overnight from the wounds of the day. With God’s help, this is a time when we can find peace in a world of chaos.
At four A.M. on a lake in upstate Maine, the air is perfectly still. The water is as smooth as glass. My mind is finally at ease. I thank God for that quiet time when I am alone with the earth at rest.
Nina Bisognani