May Love Spread More Quickly than the Virus – 2 Videos and 1 Essay – #WATWB

By Lizbeth Hartz | April 23, 2020 |

I awoke this week to a newsletter emailed from talented author Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, my former online teacher of “Writing the Spiritual Memoir.” Elizabeth’s uplifting essay and a prayer of gratitude video that she shared with me (suitable for all religions) moved me so much I’m sharing both, as well as a “Count on Me” video (song by Bruno Mars), for the April edition of #WATWB (We Are The World Blogfest).

Here’s the powerful and moving prayer of gratitude video Elizabeth sent me, Praise Song for the Pandemic by Christine Valters Paintner. It gave me goosebumps. Keep your tissues handy!

What I like the most about Elizabeth’s essay –

is how she finds hope for love and spiritual growth in the wake of the physical distancing most of us observe in the wake of Covid 19. And how her 11-year-old daughter Gwyn, who has “attention disabilities and sensory sensitivities,” finds fun and the “generative inner quiet” Elizabeth has always wished for through the combination of lots of time, physical distancing, and communion with the great outdoors.

CLICK HERE to read Elizabeth’s short essay in its entirety. If you like what you read, visit her website at ElizabethJarrettAndrew.com – and FYI, you won’t regret subscribing to her wonderful email list while you’re there.

A second fabulous video that caught my eye and heart –

was one that touched so many hearts in an online performance of Bruno Mars’ hit song, “Count on Me.” You can check out the uplifting story at Good Morning America here, and see the video below from MD Anderson Cancer Center’s YouTube channel.

We Are The World Blogfest - In Darkness, Be Light

At the end of each month, we bloggers are given an opportunity to post good news, offering an antidote to bad news in our feeds. The talented co-hosts for this month are: Susan Scott, Dan Antion, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal, Damyanti Biswas, and Eric Lahti. Please check out the blogs and say hello.

Lizbeth Hartz is the author of the true crime, true love memoir Angel Hero, Murder in Hawaii, A True Story. Get it on Amazon or sign up to read the 1st chapter free.

Posted in GOOD News, Spirituality

12 Comments

susan scott on April 24, 2020 at 10:09 am

The poetry reading video was soooo wonderful Lizbeth, you’re right, it is so moving. No-one was forgotten .. I’d like to share it.

Lizbeth Hartz on April 24, 2020 at 10:16 am

Hi Susan, so glad you liked it. Please feel free to share:)

Pradeep on April 24, 2020 at 2:50 pm

Thanks a lot, Lizbeth, for sharing the prayer. So moving. So touching. Such a glowing tribute to people who are working keep this world going. I liked this bit: “May we say this was not just an ending but also a place to begin.”
And thank you for coming over to my blog and for your comments.

Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 1:24 am

You’re welcome, Pradeep, and I’m glad you liked the prayer, as I did, and found it so moving and touching. Like you, my favorite part was the hope and the wish that this might be a place to begin. And I enjoyed reading your posting on kindness; it inspired me to remember to always choose to be kind.

Dan Antion on April 24, 2020 at 4:34 pm

That’s a wonderful essay. It was even more meaningful, because we live in the now quiet flight path of our state’s only major airport. I remember watching our daughter play outside in our small yard. It’s remarkable what children can do in a challenging situation, and it’s wonderful to read about a child having some good times, mixed in with all this confusion.

Thanks for bringing the essay and the wonderful videos to our attention.

Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 12:58 am

You’re very welcome, Dan, and I’m glad you liked the videos, and the essay and could relate to the lovely, suddenly quiet and clear skies. Yes, I agree, how great that a child can find solace and connection during these troubled times:)

Deborah Weber on April 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

What a lovely sharing of goodness – a most perfect #WATWB gift to all of us – thank you! “Praise Song for the Pandemic” is so poignant I can hardly bear it.

Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 1:10 am

Thanks for commenting, Debra, and I love how you put it, that “Praise Song for the Pandemic” is so poignant you can hardly bear it! I feel the same way, and also was very moved by your post, that photographer who brought his neighbors so much joy.

Damyanti on April 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm

This is WONDERFUL!

Lizbeth Hartz on May 5, 2020 at 8:46 pm

Thank you, Damyanti:)

Kalpana on May 5, 2020 at 12:16 pm

These videos are so moving. Thank you for sharing.

Lizbeth Hartz on May 5, 2020 at 8:46 pm

Thank you, Kalpana. So glad you enjoyed them:)

susan scott on April 24, 2020 at 10:09 am

The poetry reading video was soooo wonderful Lizbeth, you’re right, it is so moving. No-one was forgotten .. I’d like to share it.
Lizbeth Hartz on April 24, 2020 at 10:16 am

Hi Susan, so glad you liked it. Please feel free to share:)
Pradeep on April 24, 2020 at 2:50 pm

Thanks a lot, Lizbeth, for sharing the prayer. So moving. So touching. Such a glowing tribute to people who are working keep this world going. I liked this bit: “May we say this was not just an ending but also a place to begin.”
And thank you for coming over to my blog and for your comments.
- Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 1:24 am
  
  You’re welcome, Pradeep, and I’m glad you liked the prayer, as I did, and found it so moving and touching. Like you, my favorite part was the hope and the wish that this might be a place to begin. And I enjoyed reading your posting on kindness; it inspired me to remember to always choose to be kind.
Dan Antion on April 24, 2020 at 4:34 pm

That’s a wonderful essay. It was even more meaningful, because we live in the now quiet flight path of our state’s only major airport. I remember watching our daughter play outside in our small yard. It’s remarkable what children can do in a challenging situation, and it’s wonderful to read about a child having some good times, mixed in with all this confusion.

Thanks for bringing the essay and the wonderful videos to our attention.
- Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 12:58 am
  
  You’re very welcome, Dan, and I’m glad you liked the videos, and the essay and could relate to the lovely, suddenly quiet and clear skies. Yes, I agree, how great that a child can find solace and connection during these troubled times:)
Deborah Weber on April 24, 2020 at 4:44 pm

What a lovely sharing of goodness – a most perfect #WATWB gift to all of us – thank you! “Praise Song for the Pandemic” is so poignant I can hardly bear it.
- Lizbeth Hartz on April 25, 2020 at 1:10 am
  
  Thanks for commenting, Debra, and I love how you put it, that “Praise Song for the Pandemic” is so poignant you can hardly bear it! I feel the same way, and also was very moved by your post, that photographer who brought his neighbors so much joy.
Damyanti on April 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm

This is WONDERFUL!
- Lizbeth Hartz on May 5, 2020 at 8:46 pm
  
  Thank you, Damyanti:)
Kalpana on May 5, 2020 at 12:16 pm

These videos are so moving. Thank you for sharing.
- Lizbeth Hartz on May 5, 2020 at 8:46 pm
  
  Thank you, Kalpana. So glad you enjoyed them:)