January 1, 2020
           Everett E. Mann was pumped and ready to Party On!  The stock market was breaking records, the economy humming, and Everett was flying to a cruise ship package tour with exotic ports-of-call throughout the Mediterranean.  Where exactly?  He didn’t care.  There’d be a 24/7 buffet and endless entertainment options – Sweet!  Everett closed his eyes and drifted off to dreamland.

            Four months later Everett opened his eyes.  “Welcome to this Kairos moment,” a mellow voice intoned.  “Kairos!?” Everett thought to himself, “Where’s that travel brochure?  I thought it said something about Cairo.”  Everett looked around.  The other travelers were gone.  An unsettling apprehension crept over him.  The voice spoke again.

            “Everett, you and all humankind have been privileged to live during this unique Kairos moment in history.  As you may know, ‘kairos’ comes from the ancient Greek meaning the ‘right time,’ ‘opportune moment,’ or ‘God’s time.’  I’ve arranged this special Kairos moment just for you!”
 
            “And who exactly ARE you?” Everett asked nervously. 

           “I go by a lot of different names,” the voice continued.  “Some call me Yahweh, Allah, or Krishna.  You probably think of me as the Holy Spirit.  It was clear to me that humanity needed a ‘re-set’ of sorts, a fresh new way to be in harmony with each other and the natural world.  OK, I admit sending Covid -19 as a kick-starter is a rather severe nudge, but you clearly needed something to break you out of complacency and some unhealthy habits.  For example, you’ve been consuming natural resources as if you had 2 more planets’ worth in reserve.  You’ve pumped the atmosphere and oceans full of excessive amounts of CO2 and burdened the land with millions of tons of plastics and chemicals.

           “So, I give you this Kairos moment to set things straight.  No matter what, there’s no going back to the ‘normal’ of living in the 2019 world.  Hard as this is, it’s a great opportunity.  You’re already changing some habits, and Mother Nature is responding with cleaner air and water.  Here’s the chance to participate in one of the greatest accomplishments in human history – re-building a healthy world that will last for generations to come.  Make the most of it because I’m not about to create a new planet for you.  This is the only home you’ll ever know.  It’s where you’re all forever…Earthbound.”

        The crowd buzzed with excitement as Commissioner Polly Nation approached the podium.  “Welcome one and all to the 2020 Professional Pollination Practitioners Convention,” she intoned.  “And thank you for the critical services you provide every day.  Truly, our human companions would suffer greatly without your help.  As much as 1/3 of the human food supply would vanish if it were not for your work.

        “Imagine a summer picnic without the foods we pollinate - lemonade without lemons, PB&J sandwiches without the peanut butter or the jelly, no watermelon, no salsa or guacamole for chips, fruit salad made with only bananas and pineapple, no tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers and on and on!”  The crowd hummed with well-deserved pride.

        “But these are treacherous times.  As I’m sure you know, our populations are being decimated; dangers abound!  So with an update on safety concerns please welcome our next speakers, Heloise Honey and Buzz Bumble.”

        Heloise took the podium and displayed a slide of a beautifully manicured suburban lawn.  “Exhibit ‘A’”, she began, “so-named to stand for ‘Argh!’  The grass is lush, green and weed-free only because it’s loaded with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  Much of that fertilizer runs off ending up in lakes and streams choking our aquatic friends.  But those  pesticides…they’re after you and me!
       
        “Many homeowners excessively over-use lawn and gardens pesticides, some having manufacturer-recommended application rates up to 120 times higher than rates approved for agricultural crops!  The neonicotinoids (neonics) are particularly dangerous.  Beware of them!  Also, in this yard there’s a complete absence of organic debris, and only non-native flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees.  Where’s the food, shelter and water for us?”  Heloise concluded.

        “And now for Exhibit ‘B’,” Buzz began. “‘B’ for Bee-utiful for Butterflies, Birds and Bees.  This slide shows a lawn of mostly native flowers and shrubs including early, mid, and late summer bloomers.  The reduced mowed area leaves room for a small compost pile and veggie garden. What a feast!  With minimal use of pesticides this homeowner is sending an invitation to us, the butterflies and the birds.  Even the microbes in the ground are happy, healthy, and busily adding to the fertility of the soil.

        “Wise humans know that fostering a healthy environment for us means a better world for everyone because, after all, this is only home we’ll all ever share, right here where we’re all forever…Earthbound.”