April 22nd, 2021: Spiritual Vortex

Time seems to pass by so fast in some ways and to go by slowly in others. It is like watching the vortex of life. Things move slowly when they are further away from the center. They will go faster with an increasing speed as they approach the center until they disappear under it. It eventually swallows everything.

For some of us, life moves very slowly lately. There is not much to do, no place to go and no people to visit. Life seems to come to a halt. We know about the virus, and yet not all of us have a personal experience. Not too long ago, someone told me that he doesn't know anyone who is Covid-19 positive.

Some people, who are fortunately still working, might feel a bit closer to the center of that vortex of life. They learn about people who get sick, businesses send people home, people get tested and have to stay home. They are also more aware of all of the new safety protocols at work. Some have to go through the Covid-19 questionnaire every time they start a new shift.

Some of our healthcare workers are right in the center of that vortex. They are about to be swallowed by it as we listened to the grim report from the Premier of Ontario last Friday. The province is facing a troubling shortage of medical professionals if the current infection rate does not change. Deaths will take place more often.

In the midst of that, we are also encountering our spiritual vortex. The meaninglessness of life or the vacuum of beauty is now the center of that vortex. The movement that defies values and stability continues to speed up to the center. We might wake up one day and realize that nothing makes sense or has any meaning anymore. Everyone will have the right and the privilege to determine what makes sense to them. Personal truth now takes over the Truth. We cheer for nonsense and claim that is our pathway to enlightenment. Suddenly, we have different definitions for heroes and role models. The spiritual vortex finally claims its last victim, our human decency and integrity.

Proverbs 3: 7
"Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil."

Proverbs: 17: 15
"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord."

Galatians 5: 16-17
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."

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