The events of January 2026 have gone beyond anything I could have imagined, ever.  That is not because I have a limited imagination.  I just never imagined that we would experience the level of cruelty, violence, and inhumanity that we have seen in less than one month into the new year.

There are “wild animals” who do kill for food and defense.  However, humans are the only creatures on Earth who organize, arm, and kill each other for power, property, money, or revenge.  And, we consider ourselves to be the most intelligent species on the planet!  What we are seeing and experiencing is Tragic and Senseless.

There is no excuse for this kind of violence.  I have lived in Texas, New Mexico, and southern California.  I have never been attacked, robbed, held up, had an accident, or any kind of violent encounter with an illegal immigrant during that time.  Yes, I know there are illegal and undocumented immigrants in this country, and it is a problem in definite need of a solution.  But illegal “aliens” are not lurking in every parking lot!

So, what can we do to restore our sanity and heal our Hearts after seeing and hearing about all this violence?  Good Question, and there is an answer as well as a cure!

No matter how insane our Human World seems to be, Creation continues to work just fine.  Do we ever wonder if the Sun is going to come up in the morning?  Do we ever doubt that we will have a New Moon followed by a Full Moon?  Water is still H2O.  The sky continues to be infinite shades of blue.  Squirrels still bury acorns, and forget where many of them are buried.  Buffalo herds are increasing in number and gradually restoring the Prairie!

This year, the number of Monarch Butterflies wintering in Mexico has increased!  Beavers are restoring wetlands in the US and Great Britain.  Honey Bees and Beekeepers are eagerly awaiting Spring.  And the Earth continues to rotate on its axis and follow its usual orbit around the Sun.  

Gardeners, especially organic gardeners, tend to live longer, are more active as they age, and are usually more hopeful.  They are also good problem solvers!  Given the right conditions, seeds still sprout in the Spring.  The roots “know” to grow downward, and the stems always grow toward the Sun.  Sunflowers will continue to follow the Sun when they are in bloom.  “Plant a Radish, get a Radish, not a Buttercup!” (from the Fantasticks).  In other words, Creation, also known as Mother Nature, is working just fine.

Unfortunately, our culture has made wealth the ultimate goal rather than well-being.  How much property do we need to own to be content?  How many houses does one person or one family need to be satisfied or even feel safe?  From the perspective of Creation, human greed is a form of insanity.  We seem to have lost our sense of proportion as well as our ability to create Community.

Screen time is no substitute for a glorious Sunset or watching a fawn follow its mother through the woods.  Are we starving for the Beauty and Coherence of Creation?  Probably we are.  The good news is this … all we need to do is go for a walk in the woods or in a nearby park.  We can give ourselves and our families the Blessing of fresh air, Sunshine, and the Beauty of Nature.  Studies have shown that a few hours of “forest bathing” increases our sense of well-being, strengthens our immune system, and lowers our anxiety and stress, all for free!

When our human world gets to be too much, turn off the screens and head for the nearest park.  Or, plant some vegetable seeds in paper cups using a seed-starting mixture.  Keep the dirt moist and the cups in Sunshine.  Before too long, you will have the beginnings of a vegetable garden, right there in your window!  And, that will feel good!  Nature has the capacity to restore our sanity and heal our Hearts, always!