Grabbing onto the Opportunity

In the midst of re-thinking worship for the new normal, I got an e-mail Monday that my mid-week workplace is shut down for two weeks. I shouldn’t have been surprised. The museum was already closed to the public, but with only two or three of us in the whole building, it felt a bit much. However, as Covid-19 continues to ramp up, we all need to do our part and honour the directive to stay home as much as possible.

The news of a two week holiday was very welcome. I have the luxury of that being paid time. Many others have been laid off or told that their business is non-essential and has to close for a while. I recognize that this is far less stressful for me than for many. I’ve started to consider how I could help those impacted as well as what I’ll do with this extra time and how I can continue to help my congregation through this.

The posts on facebook have shifted a bit over the last while. I’ve seen more and more people writing about stopping and breathing, about recognizing that this pandemic has resulted in opportunities for healing of the earth, re-connecting with what is most important, serving neighbours, family time, social interaction and just being more intentional with rest and renewal. Accounts of people singing to each other from their balconies, ideas for parents to fill their kids’ time, and suggestions of practical help to offer are all over the place, as well as jokes to lighten the heavy mood that can threaten to overwhelm us.

We can see this time as a massive inconvenience, over-blown hype or unjust loss of freedom. Or, we can take the time to check in with God and seek to look through a lens of faith. What are we being taught and learning about ourselves and humanity? How is God moving through us and those around us? How is the church responding and how should it respond given the widespread suffering some are experiencing? A short list includes those dealing with grief, illness, loss of income, loss of ability to serve those in need, parents struggling to care for their kids and stress from being a front line worker.

While it may not feel like it, I know these two weeks of reprieve are going to fly by. We are still in the midst of Lent. I can choose to fill my time with mindless television or facebook scrolling, or I can intentionally ground myself in my faith and the story of Christ’s journey to the cross. I can do a deep cleaning beyond a spring cleaning. I can go through my closets and donate things I no longer need. I can do projects that I normally don’t have the creative energy for after a full day at work. I can phone people I haven’t talked to in years and see how they’re doing. I can work to build bridges, to encourage people, to prepare my heart for Holy week. I can learn to stop and listen. What can you do that will spring clean your spirit?

Even in the midst of the frustration and fear, God has already been blessing me. I’m blessed by hopeful posts, by people stepping up and offering to help, by people seeking connection with the church, by rest on the weekend. How have you been blessed through this unprecedented time? This has not been easy but I’ve sensed God’s presence. I believe that we are being prepared for re-birth and renewal, a re-set of how we live in creation, a re-configuring of priorities.

We need to lift up our heads and look at the story behind what is happening. We need to open ourselves to the revelation of God and the response God asks of us for our sakes and those around us. May we be inspired by what God shows us. Carpe diem! And stay well!