Sunday, March 15, 2020

How fragile we are







For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are.
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are

Sting, Fragile

I am writing this well past 2 in the morning. I should be asleep, but after the anxiety and the fear and the dread of the past days, I have found a moment of clarity. 

We are so very fragile. The tiniest of things can undo us. 

There is a virus silently stalking the world. No one knows how many people it has already infected. No one knows how many of us will die. No one knows how to stop it. 

The whole world is in this same moment. Can you imagine? The entire world. 

And yet. . . and yet. . . 

Instead of finding empathy in our shared vulnerability, we see only shame. We think it is a weakness. And, in a sense it is. Vulnerability is power's kryptonite. Admitting we are vulnerable means we cannot cling to any imagined or constructed superiority. It means looking our systematic inequities in the eye and knowing they have no justification. They make no sense.

Because while wealth or privilege or position may make your quarantine more comfortable, may let you skip the line for tests or treatment, may let you hoard cleanser and food, none of it will take away our sheer, terrifying fragility against the unknown. 

So the only question that matters is what will you do with your fear?











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4 comments:

  1. I was terrified several days ago when I had a procedure done and I was not aware of an aspect of it--the unknown came to me. I was afraid that I would not be able to do my part in the process, but in my fear all I could do was go through it. It wasn't pain, but fear of a short duration. It is so good to remember we are fragile and I emphasize "we". I'm not afraid of the virus, but I am staying aware of possible fear in others and I'm seeing quite a lot of kindness out there in my world. That seems to help us all, so I'm trying that on. I'm also doing some silent meditation to let whatever is in me surface and be accepted. I'm finding meditation time very busy even though it isn't fear that comes up now.

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    1. May you find peace in your meditation time, and healing.

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  2. My immediate neighborhood has all reached out to one another, offering aid in any way they can. It is wonderful to see us all becoming one. I hope it can continue beyond this chaos into a better future for all.

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