During this strange time in the world, I find myself wandering my archives a bit more aimless than usual. Coincidentally with the recent religious holiday, I stumbled on this older image I created in 2012 and never developed it further. I just didn’t know what to do with it. I happened to find it at a time when there are a lot of articles popping up about the upcoming 50th anniversary of Earth Day in combination with a highly unordinary Easter.
It has also been interesting to observe the consternation taking place in local city forums on lawn care. Lawn care services have been deemed a “non-essential” service in the interpretation of our Governor’s Emergency Orders over the COVID-19 pandemic. Some cities in my county have decided to not enforce restrictions on such services, while my city government will follow the Governor’s orders upon guidance from the city attorney. I have to admit, the last thing I thought about in the midst of a global pandemic (and being April in Michigan – BTW – it is snowing outside right now), was how long the grass may get. Yet, people are basically raising alarms about the rats, the fleas, the wild animals and disease that will encroach on their pristine patches of paradise suburban greenery.
I am not completely without understanding the concern. Many older folks, those in condominiums and apartments, simply do not have the ability to manage this for themselves. At the same time, I have seen more than one neighbor laying down fertilizers and weed killers where their lawn is now a good 3-4 inches longer than it was a week ago. Hmmm….
But ultimately this post is not about lawns, which I could probably spend an entire post dedicated to. It is about this odd relationship humans have with nature – trying to control it, manipulate it into compliance with our whims. This pandemic is a pretty strong reminder that no matter what our technological superiorities are, our abilities to chemically alter and manipulate the land, chase wildlife away, nature still has a way of reminding us who is the ultimate boss when it comes to the “big stuff.” On top of this global pandemic, the Great Lakes are predicted to rise potentially another 8 inches (20 cm) this year, threatening even more coastal infrastructure and housing after setting record highs last year. People are scrambling for mitigation plans.
Many climate scientists have remarked how this global pandemic is a small test. A small test to see if we have what it takes to make massive behavioral changes when faced with a threat we can’t seem to get our arms around. A small test if to see if we really have what it takes to make the changes necessary to address our climate issues. Epidemiologists warned us about the pandemic potential we are faced with, many, many years ago.
How fast and how far can we push our technological prowess to try to mitigate the challenges nature has dished out to us? Does our anxiety fixate on the tiny pieces of the planet within our control when faced with something largely out of our control?
Ultimately we have to decide where to place our faith. Will we finally take action on what nature is telling us now? Or do we put faith in our technology, that somehow we will find solutions even if they don’t exist today? If our technology just isn’t as good as we think it is for the “big stuff” – it’s too late for “I told you so.” Just like warnings about this current global crisis, we have knowledge of what we need to do. Perhaps there is no better time than now than to lay off the fertilizer.
I’ve also become a skeptic with man’s idea of worshipping profit margins. In many ways it’s difficult to not make many decisions in my life that are not touched in some way monetarily. Not sure I have much input in making policy changes, and enforcing them. For me it comes down to showing how I need to live my life under the laws of nature. I have for years struggled with the thinking our culture has such as the lawn thing, three car garages, 3,500 sf home for two people and their dog, and I could list a few more. I’m hoping this pandemic will alter the lifestyles of people in a positive way towards our natural world and our arrogance (playing God in many cases.) Love the image, by the way!
It is difficult to escape the grasp the dollar has over us. It likely plays into our essential mental health in so many ways. I have my doubts the pandemic will alter the primary behaviors that we need it to. A lot of people for sure are going to be deeply affected as far as job losses – and hopefully not triggering the next Great Depression.
So well said, Mark and the image is a knock-out. It goes perfectly with the subject. I feel like I fall about halfway between hopeful and cynical these days. It sure would be good if there are positive changes made as a result of the pandemic, but there are so many people who can’t see past the lawn…
Yeah it’s interesting the image was buried for awhile, and just now I have some words that fit it in some way, although I never could have imagined the current situation being the one that pulls it out of the shadows.
I echo many of your well-expressed thoughts on this pandemic and our interaction with nature and this planet in general, Mark. It’s telling that with our technology the most effective means we’ve found to combat COVID-19 is to simply cover, separate, and isolate. I cringe with what could be if this virus had a much much higher mortality rate. A different path needs to be taken…but, sadly, I have little faith in that happening.
I’m glad you found this image…it certainly fits this topic. I had to look at it for a few moments before it connected with me what it actually was. But, I’m thinking that was mostly due to only having one cup of coffee so far this morning! Be well, stay well!
Well thanks for spending some of those not-caffeinated-enough moments here. 🙂
It is kinda amazing to think about – this little microscopic thing largely shutting down the economy around the planet. I look at all the genetic sequence tech with wonder, as in look at all this amazing stuff we have created. And yet, it isn’t enough. It doesn’t bail us out. So maybe it is time to be worshiping the natural processes that have been around for billions of years instead of continually thinking we can do better.
I don’t know if it’s “thinking we can do better” or “thinking how much profit can be made.” I’ve sadly become such a skeptic.
I know – I find myself constantly floating between a very pessimistic skeptic and trying to find small nuggets of hope.
Well said my friend!
Thanks Howard!
I was just going to say, “Amen to that”, when I see that Linda already did.
🙂
Amen.