Rev Karen Urquhart
Rev Karen Urquhart
March 18, 2020
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I just love bears. 

Back in Australia when I was a child, we had a character called Humprey B Bear on the television. He was brown and furry, wore a yellow hat and had a beautiful, shiney black nose.

Bears were mysterious, magical creatures to me. We didn't have bears in Australia (koalas are cute, but not technically a bear). I was so excited when I first saw a sign in Canada "Beware of Bears in this area"...they actually existed!!!

I have learnt a lot more about bears since arriving and I have a deep respect for them.

I have often wished we humans could hide away in a den and sleep through the winter.

Today someone posted this on my Facebook page and I share it here:

 

"I have been feeling very caged in with isolation and social distancing,

and my partner Joseph gave me a bear teaching:

When a bear goes in to hibernation, they do it for the health of their community and themselves.

In the winter, food is scarce, hibernating allows other animals to have access to the limited resources. It slows the spread of disease and viruses among other animals during a season when immune systems are lowered, and energy is limited.

It is also a time of conserving health for the bear, a time for reflection...

it is a time that allows you to renew, to undergo change, to honour your place in life and food cycles.

It is not a time for anxiety or fear.

When it is time for hibernation, a bear can finally relax.

All of the stress of finding food, territory, and a mate disappears. The bear believes that they have done enough and trust in themselves. They know this process is necessary and they will come out the other side renewed.

Be the bear. Stay home. Rest.

Know you are doing this for something much bigger than yourself."

Author Unknown