Casualties
The wind is up, making itself known as the element that holds awesome energy and yet has no odor, cannot be seen, is untouchable - but definitely, it can be heard and its power, felt. The temperature sits at 51 degrees fahrenheit. Today is Thursday.
The stories circulating on this fourth day of January in the new calendar year, center on all kinds of casualties. There are the war casualties - a lot of "collateral damage" in the proxy wars being fought against Russia, China, and the holders of oil in the middle east. There are casualties at home, as growing numbers of people are becoming unhoused, unhealthy, uneducated, and unemployed. The costs to society are enormous - and the impact on what is known as democracy - devastating.
When people must struggle for life and basic survival, it is not possible for most to think. Thinking is a luxury these days. You have to have time, you have to have your basic needs covered. You have to have an ability to put your life into context so that the thoughts aren't just cartoons running through your mind. You have to know beauty. And other qualities that are not material such as consideration, generosity, sacrifice, compassion, love. All of these qualities are similar to the wind - you cannot touch these; you have to have the experience of feeling these things. Without time and a chance to think, or consider the conditions that are visible and tangible - it is hard to know what is real.
The big casualty is loss of self.
The recovery of self in the midst of struggle is not possible unless there are moments of deep reflection that one has access to in the course of living. Especially in today's world that has moved closer and closer to the win/lose paradigm. In this model of life, there are lots of casualties. Those may be in the form of a loss of life, of course. There are also casualties in the loss of relationships, the loss of truth (of which there is only one), the loss of vision, the loss of hope, the loss of one's way in living out this one precious life that has been given you.
Bear witness to what is happening around you.
As the wind continues to blow, one is reminded that there is a quality about that form of energy that is quite important to note: It is the fact that the wind can clear away a lot of garbage. Yes, it can be very destructive, too. And once it passes through, there is always a beautiful, clear calmness. One can clearly see damage that was done; and, if inclined to do so, one can also see what has to be done to reset so life can continue. One who does not lose themselves, sits with the casualty of strong winds, mourns, goes deep into silence because words are not sufficient to ease the pain and answer the question, "Why?"
Once the casualties are counted, and the beginnings of understanding surfaces, one knows what has to be done next. Then, it's just a matter of going to work to clean up the mess. The new energy comes from having accepted the invitation to stop, to mourn, to go into the silence so the truth of our existence is revealed. That's the source that keeps us going.