Beavers in Fish Creek

This blog was born in 2011 or 2012 after a spectacular campus ministry conference and subsequent dinner with one of my students. My hope at the time was to share one grace from my day. I'm a little late. This is a reboot to recognize grace for the journey during some very challenging times for humanity.

Today was my first day of telework during—I don't even know what to call it—our pandemic response? Our COVID-19 precautions? Yesterday, as I packed up my belongings at work and realizing that I won't be seeing many people in the flesh for a good, long while, I asked myself, "Is this even real?"

This evening, I took a walk in my neighborhood. The sun had finally emerged after what was a pretty dreary start. How good to breathe fresh air! I immediately headed to the bridge over the creek in our neighborhood where some industrious beavers have been working on a dam and have felled several trees some yards away from the water over the last few months. My neighbors and their three boys went to investigate, and I suspect daily checks will be on their list during this extended spring break. No one has reported seeing the beavers (probably because they are nocturnal), but we know they are present.

Hmm, that sounds familiar, given the current situation with The Virus. Health officials tell us it's here, but the vast majority of us have not seen it nor experienced it. It seems to be happening in a cover of darkness. And unlike the beavers, I don't look forward to seeing what it can and will do. I hope some time outside each day will help keep me grounded to the earth and calm the fear inside.

In other news, gas is $1.75/gallon on the corner. Snowdrops are blooming. Birds are chirping. Many natural processes continue as they always do, reminding me of the cyclical nature of life. It's time to dig in.

Also, let's see if I can make it to my second day of blogging.