Invocation April 28, 2020

Dr. Wally Temple delivered the invocation in which he shared Vivienne R. Reich’s “Coronavirus Letter to Humanity.”
 
Welcome. Before starting, I would like you to join me in sending our deepest condolences to those that are affected by the tragedy in Nova Scotia and all those affected by this terrible pandemic.
 
In preparing for this meeting, I looked up the definition of an invocation. It is an act or process of petitioning for help, support or inspiration from a deity or spirit today. I call on you as representatives of Rotary to help make the world healthy again.
 
This idea came from George Brookman’s presentation on the tragedy of plastics in our oceans. The eight million tons dumped into the oceans yearly will grow up to 400 million tons in less than a decade, and the plastics patch in the Pacific ocean is now three times the size of France. This situation is unbelievable and unacceptable.
 
So, in the spirit of George’s suggestion, I would like to read you this poem written by Vivienne R. Reich that calls humanity to action.

The Earth whispered, but you did not hear.

The Earth spoke, but you did not listen.

The Earth screamed, but you turned her off.

And so, I was born.

I was not born to punish you.

I was born to awaken you.

The Earth cried out for help.

Massive flooding. But you didn’t listen.

Burning fires. But you didn’t listen.

Strong hurricanes. But you didn’t listen.

Terrifying Tornadoes. But you didn’t listen.

You still don’t listen to the Earth when

Ocean animals are dying due to pollutants in the waters.

Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate.

Severe drought.

You didn’t listen to how much negativity the Earth is receiving.

Non-stop wars.

Non-stop greed.

You just kept going on with your life.

No matter how much hate there was.

No matter how many killings daily.

It was more important to get that latest iPhone than worry about what the Earth was trying to tell you.

But now, I am here.

And I’ve made the world stop on its tracks.

I’ve made YOU finally listen.

I’ve made you take refuge.

I’ve made you stop thinking about material things.

Now you are like the Earth.

You are only worried about YOUR survival.

How does that feel?

I give you fever as the fires burn on Earth.

I give you respiratory issues as pollution fills the Earth’s air.

I give you weakness as the Earth weakens every day.

I took away your comforts.

Your outings.

The things you would use to forget about the planet and its pain.

And I made the world stop.

And now, China has better air quality.

Skies are a clear blue because factories are not spewing pollution into the Earth’s air.

The water in Venice is clean, and dolphins are seen because the gondola boats that pollute the water are not used.

You have to take time to reflect on what is essential in your life.

Again, I am not here to punish you.

I am here to awaken you.

When all this is over, and I am gone, please remember these moments.

Listen to the Earth.

Listen to your soul.

Stop polluting the Earth.

Stop fighting among each other.

Stop caring about material things.

And start loving your neighbours.

Start caring about the Earth and all its creatures.

Start believing in a Creator.

Because next time I may come back even stronger.

Signed,
Coronavirus
 
Yes, I believe there’s hope. We should join George Bookman’s call to clean up our planet’s oceans. We are uniquely positioned as a global community of Rotarians to accomplish global missions. We are a significant contributor to the elimination of polio once causing 250 thousand deaths per year and countless more people paralyzed. It’s now reduced to less than 100 cases a year.
 
Our next task must be a healthy planet. Thank you, George Brookman, and thank you to the author of a letter from coronavirus to humanity.