One of the “benefits” of this Corona time is that I am able to catch up on some reading. One of the passages that I recently came across is from Friedrich Nietzsche: “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.”
That caused me to start thinking about the virus. I don’t actually know of anything else that has caused literally everyone on planet earth to have their normal schedules interrupted. It has thrown chaos (disorder and unpredictability) into the big picture. I listen to the pundits, all of whom are making statements about the Corona situation. What is most interesting are the points on which they all agree. One of those points is that a new normal is on the horizon.
“Dancing” and “star” are interesting choices of words. Dancing implies movement and star implies brightness, or symbolically, a new understanding. Through all of our chaos and disruption, distancing and isolation, I hope that we will take advantage of the situation and permit ourselves to reflect on the bigger picture. Can we as a nation “dance” into a place which offers more light to our world? It would mean that something has to change or there would be no movement. And how is that done?
I am reminded of the words of Helen Keller, a woman who was both blind and deaf: “No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” Well, there you have it! A new heaven to the human spirit. If ever there were a time……! And the key is to let go of any pessimistic thoughts. Each person is equally important in this process. No thought is too small. If we are to give birth to a dancing star we will need to keep our light bright.
May you be safe, healthy and positive as this world prepares for a re-birth. And may we all be a part of that “dancing star!”
-Rev. Ed