Only this week have my children been able to gain access to the vaccine, for which I find myself utterly grateful and humbled. Generations of humans have grappled with pandemic illness, with disease which we’ve studied and tried our best to overcome—to heal one another. I find myself in a position to help others move toward healing internally inasmuch as any of us need to heal physically from anything at all. I’m equally grateful for the many friends I have in my life dedicating their own to the study of those things which need eradication in our current world: illness; racism; injustice….and certainly more, much more.
Jesus himself calls upon the fig tree as our image of consideration, the idea that the vinekeeper maintains hope that the barren one will bear fruit the next year. This hope-filled vision forward is something I pray to have now, even as we condone vigilantism, murder, and turn a blind eye away from every justice issue from the destruction of the earth to the willing participation in activities which tear apart human dignity and uphold violence. We forget easily that the Creator is the one who should deal with the creature, to be sure, but worse, we forget to turn our attention to that One Who Awaits our bearing fruit, who tends to our soil, and gives us the strength to go on, even as we turn a blind eye to this truth. Take care to open yourself up to the truth of dignity for every creature on earth which God surely sees.