Today the air is clear and carries the promise of fall and eventual Indian Summer, but many recent days the sun has been obscured by smoke and we could barely see across the valley. The smoke will be back; this is just a reprieve. Fires north of us are still burning, and likely will be until snow puts them out. I knew this was Canadian smoke, but last week I heard that it’s coming from the Northwest Territories. Look at a map. That’s a long way. Proof that whatever is going on in the world really does affect us in our little corner.
It’s easy to feel complacent when we hear of earthquakes in Morocco, tornadoes in Texas, and floods in Florida. Yes, it’s too bad. We may say a prayer or send a donation, but after being assured that the folks we know in those areas are okay, we go on about our routines. Those daily routines help us feel safe, or at least as safe as anyone can assume to be in this fast changing and unstable world. And that’s a good thing, because if we allow ourselves to be consumed with fear and trembling, the world becomes even more unstable.
I’ve been thinking about other kinds of air pollution. How much negative and unhealthy stuff do we allow into our lives on any given day? And how much are we spewing forth to pollute every part of the planet? Our negative words, gossip, ranting and raving about how we are on the way to Hades in a handbasket, do nothing toward solutions and everything to continue the chaos. Maybe you thought that stuff only touched the people at your table in the coffee shop or the ones at the meeting you attended. Not so. Everyone in that group will go forth to repeat some of those words or ponder on the thoughts we offered. The pondering may be a good thing if they decide to unhook and practice peace, but few of us have that ability on a consistent basis. More likely we become angry and begin another heated discussion in another venue. And so, the pollution spreads.
I can’t do much about the mess on what passes for the evening news but is nothing more than sensationalism, or the descent into profanity (another kind of air pollution) that pundits have adopted. But I can turn it off and go look at the stars. Sometimes I do this, and sometimes I let myself get hooked. Same for you, I’d guess. When was the last time you heard a news broadcast that simply reported an event and didn’t slip in some effort to sway your judgement? There is no such outlet that I’ve found, and that includes public radio, which you are paying for. The closest you can come is the local newspaper, and who even reads that anymore, besides me and a few others who are hard core readers?
Recently, there was a blurb about a celebrity who claims never to have cursed. Maybe there’s such an animal on earth but they are well hidden, and I’m not one of them. Still, I make an effort to improve and am aware when I fail. There’s a reason that the Good Book says to let your yes be yes and no be no. Keeping it simple cuts down on pollution.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best not to spread pollution. Somebody might like it.