I am writing this from my porch on Sunday evening at 2047.
The sky is overcast, a cool breeze blowing in from the north and east, not uncommon for this time of year. The sky was trying drop rain earlier and may do so again within the next hour (or so claim the Weather Gods), which kept down the few fireflies that tried to rise at twilight.
Crickets, those heralds of the summer months in these parts, provide a background chorus to the oak leaves that occasionally shift with the breeze. They have overtaken the bird calls, which have now died away with the last rays of the sunset. Away in the east and the west I hear the play of traffic as individuals motor to whatever parts those north/south roads will take one.
In this pocket of calm and quiet I mentally reel over the videos and reports I have seen over the last three days - yes, even in this city where we live. The relative calm and peace belie that which I know has occurred and is occurring even now.
It has not been my place - nor will it be now - to discuss any of it in the context of politics or current events. There are other forums for that, other places where the discussion and sometimes verbal wars continue. I have hoped that in some way, this blog would be some kind of refuge of peace, like the breezes and crickets that sing softly outside of my door.
What I am watching are the death throes of a civilization.
Oh, I consider that this might seem as a potentially overstatement of fact: we have had such things before, one might say, and things have always calmed down after it.
But never so much - and never so many.
If you have ever observed an animal dying, there is a point at which they thrash as if to try to flee Death for one last moment before they slip away. This is what we are seeing now, the beginning of a thrashing and wildly gyrating about, anger like fire consuming everything in its path like fire, leaving only smoldering ruins and hardship in its wake.
I sit here and watch the street light as it shines off of the moving oak leaves, giving them a yellow cast they would not otherwise achieve until Winter. I hear them rustle against each as their peace seems to blow away with the Cold Front coming in.
I wonder, how many of these moments of peace will we have left?
I have never heard of "turnings" before. I found this interesting, and I need to study the idea more before I can trust it. What do you think?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.lifecourse.com/about/method/the-four-turnings.html
STxAR, I am passing familiar with the concept. I have not put a great deal of thought into it as (with many other things) sometimes if feels like the authors are "selling" a program. Still, no harm in revisiting the subject.
DeleteIt is scary and sad; but I guess promising also, in that we are closer to Jesus' return.
ReplyDeletePraise God and give Him the glory,
Indeed Linda. I try not read signs into current events - one becomes a soothsayer, chasing after flocks of crows - but it sure does seem like things are spiraling more and more out of control. As was foretold.
DeleteOur nation has been on a self-destruct course for awhile now. What's amazing, is the series of events that have escalated it. The country has faced some tough events, but I think what's different now is that there are folks who want to see it destroyed. We expect that from an enemy on the outside, but now it's seemingly coming from within.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, this is how all great nations and empires ultimately fall: from the inside.
DeleteYes, it saddens me greatly that so many seem Hell bent (I use the word intentionally) on destroying everything to remake it in their image. Sadly, none of them are students of history, which will tell them (more often than not) what actually happens after such events.