Dear Partners in Green,

What a stressful time we have endured, 
but now it seems we can take a moment to breathe, 
trusting our country is in capable hands.

We celebrate President Joe Biden’s first actions:
prioritizing the COVID – 19 pandemic,
rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization, 
cancelling the permits for the Keystone XL Pipeline.

What a relief! 
What a weight lifted!

Yes, we can take a moment to celebrate, 
but there is much more work to be done. 
And that work is up to us to do. 

We must be the ones laboring to make this world 
a better place for those who are to follow.

Climate degradation, 
economic disparity, 
racial injustice, 
are not mutually exclusive, 
but bound by the theme of exploitation; 
using, 
bleeding,
profiteering for one’s own gain or one’s own agenda. 

We must be mindful of the lure of a lifestyle 
which in itself may be a form of exploitation.

A concern is that when the coronavirus is finally under control 
we may resume our former habits: 
driving too much, 
flying too much, 
shopping too much. 

This living earth, this blessed microcosm, 
has had some time to recover, 
but in a few short months 
the CO2 rate could again sky-rocket, 
perhaps even exceeding their level pre-pandemic. 

The last thing we need is to get back to the “old normal.”  
Too much has been exposed: 
inequity, poverty, racism,
the war on truth, 
a country divided.

There is work to be done. 
So what can we do? 
What can you do?

You all have different gifts. 
Some are writers, 
some singers, artists, or musicians. 

Some prefer serving on boards and committees, 
some are community organizers,
others are builders, teachers, doctors, and preachers. 

There is work to be done to change lives,  
to change hearts and minds, and policy. 

What if each of you, each of us, directed 
our skills, our energy, 
our passion 
to finding a way to use those gifts 
in addressing climate degradation, 
racial disparity, 
generational poverty, 
one task at a time, 
one day at a time?  

Just do what you do! 
It can be as simple as that.

I leave you with this song by Ben Harper.

Wishing peace and health to you and your loved ones.

Thank you for being on this journey.

Till next time.

Beth