The Skies Cried Orange tears this morning
I woke up thinking it was just any other day, I mean, why would today be any different from the others?
I showered, made the bed, scooped up my stuff and slowly trod down the stained grey stairs thinking about my priorities for the day, while the cat bleated loudly and rushed demandingly underfoot. She needed her breakfast, and now.
I was feeling quite deflated within minutes of being awake.
This past week has been a challenging and trying one — a real test on my character, what I make things mean, and how I choose to be — to react or not react.
Daily, I keep reminding myself to breathe, and live my mantras —
Don’t wish things were easier, wish you were better ( — Jim Rohn), and
There is no failure, only feedback. There is no failure, only feedback. There is no failure, only feedback.
My job — and your job too — is to actively look for the lessons we could learn from all the things which have not gone to plan.
To be curious and ask ‘What meaningful lesson could I take away from this situation?’
After asking myself this, the answers came to me quickly and easily, and something powerful happened — I got really still, felt grateful and prayed for quality problems.
I hadn’t thought about quality problems all week.
This is usually a sign for me that I am living in reaction, as opposed to proactivity, where I usually live and feel I am the best version of me.
Quality problems like solving world hunger, sanitation or clean drinking water for all, or something as small as a question, like ‘How can I be of service to others today?’.
It wasn’t until I rolled up the creamy white Venetian blinds that I started to notice the change which had occurred overnight right outside my home, inches away from where I stood.
Mud up to the top of my windows, well above my head.
Strange, I thought, perhaps the gutters needed to be cleaned. I had my windows professionally cleaned less than a week ago. How curious.
But as I looked more closely, I noticed it everywhere — a film of dirty copper-orange, like the colour of rusty nails, had formed a sheath on everything outside. Not just my windows.
It was trash day, so as I rolled my half-empty trash-can to the curb, I spied around to see just how far this rust coloured film had gone.
It was across every house, the trees, and in the water which was wooshing down the roadside gutters.
It was on the grass, roads, footpaths, letterboxes, cars, decks — it was everywhere. This could totally be the start to a stranger things episode, I thought.
I had heard the pitter-patter of rain tap-dancing on my rooftop all night and found it very soothing.
I had thought in passing that it could really help with the fires, which are pretty close to where I’m living now.
It seems that mother nature cried and wept last night — really, really hard.
The rust-like haze reminded me of the pain going on in the world, and my heart ached for
The billions of lifeforms slaughtered —
The hundreds of millions displaced —
It is not just the animals or people, but every living organism, creature and thing being hurt on our beautiful earth.
It seems like such a waste. My heart can’t quite understand it. Neither can my head. Right now, it is the bush fires, but there is always some version of this going on somewhere in the world, some disaster happening and lives being destroyed.
And there is such a feeling of emptiness, helplessness and utter despair around what to do.
Then I thought, I do have one thing I can do right now — I can notice this and share it with you. This makes today an extra-ordinary day, one where I got to see things a new way and to share it with you. So,
The next time you see orange skies,
Or dirty, rusty rain,
Think of it as mother nature in her infinite wisdom,
Reminding us all of just how connected we all are,
And that we are not so helpless after all.
Rather than saying ‘I don’t know what to do’,
Ask for divine guidance,
Ask ‘What can I do?’.
Then say a little prayer,
For all of the poor souls who have had their lives taken,
And all those brave beings who are risking their lives to save strangers.
