The Miracle of Morning
Vesper Society believes that a just society begins when everyone is well and respected as a human being. The month of March marks two years since COVID-19 shut down our society, brought out the best and exposed the worst in us. As we emerge from this pandemic, let us remember the struggles we went through these past two years, for they will continue to define how we create a better world going forward.
On this last day of Women’s History Month, we turn again to our beloved inaugural poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, who continues to inspire us from her book Call Us What We Carry.
THE MIRACLE OF MORNING
We thought we’d awaken to a world in mourning.
Heavy clouds crowding, a society storming.
But there’s something different on this golden morning.
Something magical in the sunlight, wide and warming.
We see a dad with a stroller taking a jog.
Across the street, a bright-eyed girl chases her dog.
A grandma on a porch fingers her rosaries.
She grins as her young neighbor brings her groceries.
While we might feel small, separate and all alone,
Our people have never been more closely tethered.
The question isn’t if we can weather this unknown,
But how we will weather this unknown together.
So, on this meaningful morn, we mourn and we mend.
Like light, we can’t be broken, even when we bend.
As one, we will defeat both despair and disease.
We stand with healthcare heroes and all employees;
With families, libraries, waiters, schools, artists;
Businesses, restaurants and hospitals hit hardest.
We ignite not in the light, but in lack thereof,
For it is in loss that we truly learn to love.
In this chaos, we will discover clarity.
In suffering, we must find solidarity.
For it’s our grief that gives us gratitude,
Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lost it.
So ensure that this ache wasn’t endured in vain:
Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.
Read children’s books, dance alone to DJ music.
Know that this distance will make our hearts grow fonder.
From these waves of woes our world will emerge stronger.
We’ll observe how the burdens braved by humankind
Are also the moments that make us humans kind;
Let each morning find us courageous, brought closer;
Heeding the light before the fight is over.
When this ends, we’ll smile sweetly, finally seeing
In testing times, we became the best of beings.
These are certainly trying times for the people of Ukraine. During this season of Lent, we pray for peace, for an end to the senseless destruction and suffering.
We leave you with an image of an Ukrainian Easter egg, painted with sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine. May it bring strength and resolve to protect life and seek light amid the darkness.